Chandra Grahan 2018: Watch it for these three special reasons by NASA

New Delhi : After March 1866, this is the first time when people will be able to see blue moon total lunar eclipse or special chandra grahan in India. 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA) has explained three reasons why January 31, day when blue moon will be seen from different places in the world, is special.

Gordon Johnston, program executive and lunar blogger at NASA Headquarters in Washington said, “For the (continental) U.S., the viewing will be best in the West.

The whole phenomenon can be best seen from the West Coast, Alaska and Hawaii if weather co-operates. The eclipse begins at 5:51 AM ET, as the Moon is about to set in the western sky, and the sky is getting lighter in the east.

Here are the three reasons given by NASA:

1. “It’s the third in a series of ‘supermoons’, when the Moon is closer to Earth in its orbit — known as perigee — and about 14 percent brighter than usual.

2. It’s also the second full moon of the month, commonly known as a ‘blue moon’.

3. The super blue moon will pass through Earth’s shadow to give viewers in the right location a total lunar eclipse. While the Moon is in the Earth’s shadow it will take on a reddish tint, known as a ‘blood moon’.”  

In India, the lunar eclipse will start from 5.18 pm, the total eclipse will start at 6.21 pm and it will last till 7.37 pm. People will be able to see it from everywhere in the country.

The main eclipse which will start around 6.25 pm after sunset can be seen in the eastern sky as the moon would have just risen by then.