All you want to know about Lunar Eclipse

The lunar eclipse also called 'Chandra Grahan' in Hindi or 'Wolf Moon Eclipse', occurs when the Moon passes directly behind Earth and its shadow. A lunar eclipse can occur only on the night of a full moon. The type and length of a lunar eclipse depends on the Moon's proximity to either node of its orbit. 

There are three types - total, partial and penumbral. 

In India, the lunar eclipse can be seen from 10:30 pm on Friday, January 10 till 2:42 am, 11th January.

The one which will take place on January 10  is the penumbral lunar eclipse. The eclipse is expected to last around 4 to 5 hours. 

Partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves between the Sun and Moon but the three celestial bodies do not form a straight line in space. When this happens, a small part of the Moon's surface is covered by the dark of the Earth shadow. It is also called the umbra.

Total lunar eclipse takes place when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon and covers the Moon with its shadow. It is sometimes called 'Blood Moon' because the Moon may look red when it's illuminated by the light in Earth's shadow.

Penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are imperfectly aligned. When this happens, the Earth blocks some of the sunlight from directly reaching the Moon's surface and covers all or part of the Moon with the outer part of its shadow, also known as the penumbra.

The lunar eclipse will be visible in the following areas including Moscow (Eastern Europe), India, Australia, Africa, North America, South America, the Pacific, Cairo (North Africa), the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and the Arctic. 

According to ancient legends and myths, wolfs howl at the full moon in January, hence the nickname ‘wolf eclipse’ was given. Pop culture also believes that dogs go a little crazy when the Wolf moon dictates the sky as it is considered the most dangerous Moon, after the Halloween’s full Moon.

One of the most popular myths or superstitions related to lunar eclipse is that people should not eat food or drink during the eclipse.

Most of them believe that food goes bad during the period and may cause indigestion. Many people cover their food with Tulsi(basel) leaves to protect it from going bad.

This Lunar eclipse will be the first of the four penumbral eclipses in this year. Other tentative dates for the eclipse are June 5, July 5 and November 30.