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10 things you should know about the May 2023 lunar eclipse

May 5, 2023
Bharat Times

Moon seen through clouds during a partial lunar eclipse in Srinagar on May 5, 2023. (Picture: AFP)

Lunar Eclipse 2023: During the total phase, the Moon will turn red in color due to the Earth’s atmosphere refracting sunlight around the Earth and onto the Moon

Lunar Eclipse 2023: The first penumbral lunar eclipse of 2023 is visible tonight across eastern parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and South America. Depending on the weather it will be visible in many parts of India. The astronomical event occurs when the Moon passes deep into the outer part of Earth’s shadow, known as the penumbra.

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Today’s lunar eclipse coincides with the “Flower Moon,” a term for the full moon that occurs each year in May. It is called the Flower Moon because springtime usually occurs in May in the Northern Hemisphere and is usually associated with an abundance of flowers.

Read also: Lunar eclipse 2023 timings: Lunar eclipse timings in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and other cities

According to timeanddate.com, this lunar eclipse will be the deepest penumbral eclipse till September 2042. The next total lunar eclipse after the 2023 eclipse will occur on March 14, 2025.

Here’s all you need to know about lunar eclipse 2023:

  1. The first lunar eclipse of 2023 or penumbral lunar eclipse or Chandra Grahan began at 08:44 PM IST and ended at 01:01 AM IST on May 6.
  2. The eclipse will be visible from most parts of the world, including North and South America, Asia, Australia, and parts of Europe and Africa.
  3. The total phase of the eclipse will last for about 15 minutes.
  4. During total phase, the Moon will appear reddish due to the bending of sunlight by Earth’s atmosphere around Earth and onto the Moon.
  5. This type of lunar eclipse is sometimes called a “blood moon” because of the red color of the Moon during the eclipse.
  6. The eclipse will occur during the full moon phase, when the Moon is closest to Earth.
  7. The eclipse will be the only total lunar eclipse of the year 2023.
  8. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon.
  9. Lunar eclipses can only occur during a full moon phase, and they can occur up to three times a year.
  10. The next total lunar eclipse after the 2023 eclipse will occur on March 14, 2025.

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