Total Lunar Eclipse 2018: Blue moon in skies on January 31

New Delhi : Save the date! A total lunar eclipse will be taking place on January 31, 2018 for the first time in last 150 years. It will be the second full moon aka 'Blue Moon' and a first eclipse of the new year.

NASA has defined eclipse as a phenomenon when the Earth, moon and sun are in perfect alignment, blanketing the moon in the Earth's shadow.

In a condition of total lunar eclipse, the whole sunlight is blocked by Earth’s shadow. The total phase of this lunar eclipse, also known as a 'Blood Moon, will be visible in large parts of US, northeastern Europe, Russia, Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific, and Australia.

Blood Moon total lunar eclipse 2018 details:

The appearance of moon in the sky: The moon will appear orangish and can also look deep red at some parts of the Earth.

Timings: The lunar eclipse will last for about 76 minutes, with the moon tracking through the southern part of the Earth's shadow. In India, it would start at 6.21 pm on January 31 2018 and will be visible till 7.37 PM.

Total lunar eclipse around the world: The Pacific Ocean will be turned towards the Moon at the time and the eclipse will take place during the middle of the night. Central and eastern Asia, Indonesia, New Zealand and most of Australia will get a fine view of this Moon show in the evening sky. Alaska, Hawaii and north-western Canada will see the eclipse from start to finish. However, moonset will intervene for the rest of North and Central America.

Lunar Eclipse next date: In case you miss the current lunar eclipse, the next one will be seen on December 31, 2028, and, after that, on January 31, 2037.

Previous lunar eclipse: An eight per cent partial eclipse on December 31, 2009, but the last total eclipse of a Blue Moon happened all the way back in March 31, 1866.