New Delhi, India

The skywatchers are set to get a visual treat when the moon will occult Saturn in a rare celestial event on July 25, and the giant planet will go in hiding temporarily behind the natural satellite. 

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The phenomenon, which is known as occultation, will be a rare opportunity to witness the celestial event for both amateur and professional astronomers.

The process of occultation takes place when one celestial body covers the other one and makes it invisible for some time. In this case, the Moon will come in front of Saturn and its visibility will be blocked for a short duration, hence the event is called the "Lunar Occultation of Saturn". 

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When will Saturn's Lunar Eclipse occur in India and how to watch it?

This kind of eclipse will become visible in India after a span of 18 years. It will begin at around 1:03 am IST and Saturn is expected to get completely hidden by the moon at 1:44 am IST. 

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The planet will then make its reappearance at 2:25 am IST and it will last till 2:56 am IST, as per the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA). However, the timings are likely to slightly differ at various locations.

According to the IIA, the occultation will appear in Bengaluru from 1:03 am to 2:09 am, in Bhubaneshwar from 1:30 am to 2:38 am, in Guwahati from 1:50 am to 2:56 am, in Mumbai from 1:26 am to 1:49 am and in Kolkata from 1:38 am to 2:46 am.

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The eclipse will also become visible in other countries like Japan, China, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. When the occultation occurs, it is expected that the rings of Saturn will emerge from behind the Moon.

For those interested in observing this event, binoculars or a small telescope can help them see the eclipse with the naked eye.

Before and after the occultation, Saturn will be visible as a bright star near the Moon. The occultation, which is part of a series of lunar occultations of planets, is expected to occur again on October 14, 2024.

(With inputs from agencies)