Lunar Eclipse 2021 Live: Check out live updates from the rare total lunar eclipse and supermoon event. A Super Flower Moon rises behind the Sydney Opera House on the night of a lunar eclipse, in Sydney, Australia, May 26, 2021. REUTERS/Loren ElliottLunar Eclipse 2021 Today Live Updates: The lunar eclipse is now over. The full eclipse began at 11.11 am UTC, which was around 4.41 pm IST. But the total lunar eclipse was not visible in India. The total lunar event will last till 7.19 pm IST.
The Moon will be the closest to Earth and will hence, today’s lunar eclipse is called a Super Blood Moon. Not only does the moon appears to be bigger and closer to the Earth, it will be reddish orange in colour. This is the first total lunar eclipse since January 2019.
What exactly will you see on May 26?
Since it is a supermoon, which is essentially a Full Moon at its closest point to Earth, we will be seeing a larger Full Moon than usual. However, since it is also a total lunar eclipse on the same day, we will be later seeing the Moon in its glowing red tone. So this is a Super Blood Moon.
The red colour comes from the Earth blocking out most of the Sun’s light from reaching the moon and filtering out the remaining light to give the Moon its red ‘total lunar eclipse’ shade.
Who can watch the Total Lunar Eclipse?
This year’s first total lunar eclipse will start at 2:17 pm as per Indian Standard Timing (IST) and be visible until 7:19 pm. While observers all over the world will be able to view the Supermoon throughout the night if the sky is clear, the eclipse will be visible in East Asia, Australia, the Pacific, and Americas
The lunar eclipse, NASA says, will be more difficult to observe. The partial eclipse, which is when the moon moves into and out of Earth’s shadow will be visible from India, Nepal, western China, Mongolia, and eastern Russia just after the Moon rises in the evening. But India will not get to see the total eclipse.
So the partial lunar eclipse has begun. But the event will peak at around 11.16 am UTC or 4.41 pm IST. This is the time during which the moon will be completely covered by the Earth's shadow, and will take on a reddish, orange colour.
The Supermoon is visible in some parts of the world. A look at some pictures of the Reddish moon.
The full moon, known as the "Super Flower Moon", is seen behind Stonehenge stone circle near Amesbury, Britain, May 26, 2021. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra
Lunar eclipse, at least the total lunar eclipse where the moon will turn reddish orange is not visible in India. Only a partial lunar eclipse will be seen in India. The Supermoon should be visible if the skies are clear. However, thanks to the internet we can at least see the lunar eclipse taking place in other countries. Check out the tweet below
One big question is whether the lunar eclipse is safe to watch or not? And whether it will have impact on a user's health or not? As NASA makes it clear the lunar eclipse and all phases of a lunar eclipses are safe to view. You can view with your naked eye. You don't need any special equipment for this, though those who have a "telescope," will be able to enjoy a closer view of the Supermoon.
This is because sky gazers will not only witness a super-celestial event, but also a supermoon and a red blood moon all at once. The total lunar eclipse is the first in nearly two and a half years. It occurs within hours of the closest perigee of the year, making the Moon appear about 7 percent larger than average.
Tonight's lunar eclipse is taking place along with a supermoon. A supermoon is when the moon is at or near its closest point to Earth. Tonight's moon will appear 7 per cent bigger. When the Moon is at or near its closest point to Earth at the same time as it is full, it is called a “supermoon,” according to NASA. It will also appear brighter in the sky.
So we can't experience the total lunar eclipse in India, but NASA has a very cool graphics which you can try out to see a telescopic view of tonights Super Blood Moon eclipse. The graphics will show a telescopic view of what the moon will look like at various phases. Trying entering different times and hit update to see what the experience will be like if you were actually viewing the total eclipse.
The total lunar eclipse is not visible in India. Only parts of India will get to see the partial eclipse, but the Supermoon should be visible if the skies are clear.
The total lunar eclipse will be visible in western continental United States, Canada, all of Mexico, Central America and Ecuador, western Peru, and southern Chile and Argentina. The partial eclipse, which takes place as the Moon will be visible in Nepal, western China, Mongolia, and eastern Russia just after the Moon rises in the evening, along with India.
Finally, those who live in eastern Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, including Hawaii, will see both the total and the partial eclipse, according to NASA.
During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth blocks all sunlight from reaching the moon, but some sunlight does manage to hit the lunar surface, but it is heavily filtered red light.
As NASA explains, sunlight "bends and scatters" when it has to pass through Earth's atmosphere, and while blue light gets scattered more easily, colours liked red and orange travel a straighter path. It is this "heavily filtered morning and evening light" which reaches the moon, and that's why the moon appears "red-orange".
According to NASA, "the more dust or clouds in Earth’s atmosphere during the eclipse, the redder the Moon will appear." You can read more about today's phenomena, here in our Explained.