LUCKNOW: The city will witness the century's longest total
lunar eclipse with the moon turning 'blood red' on Friday. For watching the rare celestial show, enthusiasts can make a visit to the Indira Gandhi Planetarium and the Regional Science City. Cloudy sky, however, may pose a challenge for stargazers.
The astronomical event will last for 3 hours and 55 minutes with total lunar eclipse visible from 11.54pm till 3.49am. The period when the moon will be completely engulfed in the earth's shadow will last for 1 hour 43 minutes, making it the longest lunar eclipse of the century.
"There will be two astronomical events on Friday-one will be the longest total lunar eclipse and the second will be Mars opposition. This is for the first time in the last 20 years that there will tri-planet opposition in just 79 days. It has never been so that
Saturn, Jupiter and Mars opposition has occurred in such a short time," said scientific officer Sumit Srivastava.
He said for viewing both the events, Indira Gandhi Planetarium will be installing two telescopes. General public can visit the institute at 8pm and witness the event till it ends, for free.
Starry-eyed
