A total lunar eclipse is expected to be observed on Saturday — the second time the Earth will cast a long shadow over the Moon this year — but stargazers in India will have to savour the moment as the next time the celestial event is expected to be observed in the country is seven years away.
“For observers in India, on December 10, the Moon will start falling under the Earth's shadow at around 6.15 p.m. The next total lunar eclipse, visible in its entirety from India will only be after another seven years in 2018,” said Dr. D. P. Duari, director (Research and Academics) of the M. P. Birla Planetarium here on Tuesday.
The total eclipse will begin at 7:36 p.m. and will last until 8:28 p.m.
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Monsoon clouds had thrown a wet blanket for sky watchers during the total lunar eclipse on June 15 this year.
The December 10 eclipse, however, is likely to be more clearly visible, he added.