Weather permitting, India and certain other parts of the globe will be witnessing the longest total lunar eclipse in more than a decade on the night of June 15. It starts at 12.52 a.m. and will last nearly 100 minutes.
Some scientists are christening it the “Darkest eclipse of the century”.
The special nature of this eclipse is that as the moon will be passing through almost the central part of the earth's shadow, it will become darker compared to other eclipses, Debiprosad Duari, Director, Research and Academics, M.P. Birla Planetarium, said here on Sunday.
The eclipse will be best visible, almost near the zenith, from everywhere in India. The event will also be seen from the eastern half of Africa, the Middle East, central Asia and west Australia.
The last time such a lengthy total lunar eclipse took place was on July 16, 2000.
“The next lunar eclipse, also to be visible from India, will be a total one on December 10 but its duration will be for only 25 minutes”, Dr. Duari said.
