Blood Moon tonight: India set for 82-minute total lunar eclipse

Skywatchers across India are in for a celestial spectacle tonight as a total lunar eclipse, widely known as a Blood Moon, unfolds. This rare event will last approximately 82 minutes in totality, making it one of the longest such eclipses in recent years.

In India, the penumbral eclipse—the subtle initial phase—will begin at 8:58 PM IST, quickly followed by the moon entering Earth's umbral shadow at 11:00 PM IST. The period of totality, when the Moon turns a striking red hue, is expected to continue until 12:22 AM IST, after which the eclipse will gradually end by 2:25 AM IST.

This phenomenon will be visible across India, including cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Lucknow provided skies remain clear.

The dramatic red appearance is caused by Rayleigh scattering—sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere filters out blue light, allowing red wavelengths to cast onto the Moon.

The eclipse's length and visibility make it stand out. Skywatching authorities note that the Moon's slow motion near apogee and its path through Earth's central shadow contribute to a notably prolonged totality of 82 minutes—a major highlight for astronomers and casual observers alike.

Additional details underscore the event's safe viewability: unlike solar eclipses, a lunar eclipse can be observed with the naked eye, with no protective eyewear needed, offering families and enthusiasts a readily accessible skywatching experience.

This lunar eclipse also enjoys broad global visibility, accessible to residents across Asia, Australia, Africa, and Europe, marking it as a truly international astronomical event.