Longest total lunar eclipse of 21st century on July 27

Kolkata, July 3: The longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century would occur on July 27, with the celestial spectacle visible in its entirety from all parts of India. The eclipse will last for 1 hour and 43 minutes, giving viewers a wonderful opportunity to experience the happening, according to Debiprosad Duari, Director, Research & Academic, M.P. Birla Planetarium, Kolkata. It will be preceded and followed by partial eclipses lasting more than one hour. The eclipse will be visible in parts of South America, much of Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. For viewers in India, the eclipse, both partial and the total, will be visible in its entirety from all parts of the country. The partial eclipse of the moon will start around 11.54 p.m. Indian Standard Time, with the total eclipse begining at 1 a.m. on July 28. “The greatest eclipse, when moon will look the darkest, will be at around 01:52 a.m. and the totality will continue at 02:43 a.m. after this period the moon will remain partially eclipsed till 03:49 a.m. of July 28,” Duari said. (IANS)