Longest Partial Lunar Eclipse on 19 Nov 2021 Visible in India

The second and Last Eclipse visible from India in 2021 will occur on 19th November 2021. This eclipse is a Partial Lunar Eclipse. Across the world, this eclipse will be visible in the region covering western Africa, western Europe, North& South America, Asia, Australasia, Atlantic Ocean and  Pacific.

Timings of Eclipse& Date: Eclipse in various phases begins at 11.30 am. on 19th November 2021 and Ends at 5.35 p.m. The noticeable Umbral phase begins at 12.48 Noon and Ends at 4.17 p.m. 

In other words: Though astronomically speaking Eclipse begins at 11.30 am. with moon entering the lighter Shadow of Earth called Penumbra and ends at 5.35 p.m leaving Penumbra. People across the world noticeably would witness darkening (or leaving) of Moon’s disk by Earth Shadow in Umbral phase between 12.48 Noon to 4.17 p.m. on 19 November 2021 i.e. which at 3hrs 28 Minutes 23 Secs.

Reason for Being Longest/Lengthiest – Not Visible in Most places: It’s a fact that a Lunar Eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the shadow of Earth. On 21 November 2021 7.42 a.m. moon will reach the farthest point in its orbit called Apogee. So Eclipse of the Moon on 19 Nov occurs 41 hours before Earth reaching Apogee. Hence as Moon on 19^th Nov 2021 is farther away from Earth, it will travel slower along its orbit than at Perigee. In other words Moon near apogee point takes longer to pass through Earth’s shadow making the Partial Eclipse of the Moon on 19 Nov 2021 the longest.

Why Visibility few parts of Assam & Arunachal Pradesh?  The moon rises around 4.24 p.m. in Assam & Arunachal Pradesh whereas the rest of the country Moon rises late. For example like most of the states Moon Rises at 5.43 p.m. in Hyderabad on 19 Nov 2021. Though Eclipse of Moon will occur on 19 Nov in India. Most of the people across India will miss observing this event because Moon rises late and is not above the horizon during the time of eclipse on 19^th Nov 2021.  

580 years – 1000 years Social Media Confusion?  Three Lengthiest Lunar Eclipses in 1300 years  – Umbra/Partial phase: Between year 1400 to 2700 three lengthiest “Partial” Lunar Eclipses can be noted i.e 18 Feb 1440 at 3hrs 28mins 46 Sec,  19 Nov 2021 at 3hrs 28mins 23sec  and on 8 Feb 2669 at 3hr 30mins 02 Secs. This simply means the last time the lengthiest “Partial” Lunar Eclipse occurred was 580 years ago in 1440. Whereas the next lengthiest “Partial” Lunar Eclipse will occur 648 years from Now i.e. in the year 2669.

Names of Moon: In the recent past social media is called Full Moon & allied events with different names. Ex: Full Moon on 19 Nov 2021 is Beaver Moon.  It’s a fact that across the world different folklore name full Moon with different names every month. These Folklore names are based on seasons or astrological reasons. However scientifically speaking natural Satellite of Earth as per International Astronomical Union (IAU) as only one name i.e. Moon.  

The next Lunar Eclipse visible from India which is the Total Lunar Eclipse will occur on 8th Nov 2022. The last lunar Eclipse visible from India occurred on 26 May 2021 which was visible in a few places in India. Whereas the last opportunity to see Lunar Eclipse, for all people across India occurred on 31 January 2018 which was Total.