Lunar Eclipse on 5 May - Here’s how you can watch it from India

• The first lunar eclipse of the year will occur on May 5, 2023 and will be visible from many parts of India.
• The chandra grahan will start at 8:44 pm IST, reach its maximum phase at 10:52 pm IST and close at 1:01 am on May 6, 2023.
• The next lunar eclipse for 2023 will occur on October 28-29.

If you have a clear sky during the night of May 5, you may be lucky to see a spectacular lunar eclipse from your region in India. Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses do not need any special protective equipment to witness it. There are just two conditions to enjoy one: the eclipse must be visible in your region and the sky must support clear views.
The first lunar eclipse of the year
On Friday, May 5, 2023, the first lunar eclipse of the year will stage itself in the sky. Also called the chandra grahan, it follows on the heels of the total solar eclipse that happened on April 20, 2023. There are two other eclipses set to occur during the year – a solar eclipse on 14 October and a lunar eclipse on 28-29 October. The first lunar eclipse in 2023 will be a penumbral one while the second and last one for the year will be a total lunar eclipse.
When to watch the eclipse from India
The spectacular scene will begin on May 5 around 8:44 pm IST. The eclipse will reach its maximum phase at 10:52 pm IST and will end at 01:01 am on May 6, 2023. The total duration of the eclipse will be around 4 hours 17 minutes. If the sky is clear, Indians can watch the eclipse from most parts of the country. In some parts, the moon may be rising or setting around the time of the eclipse, making it hard to watch it.

The regions that can watch this eclipse include Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia, Indian Ocean, Atlantic, and Antarctica. A number of websites and TV channels will be live streaming the eclipse and hence you will not miss it if you are keen to enjoy the rare sight of the moon during the eclipse night.
About lunar eclipses
Lunar eclipses happen when the earth passes in between the sun and the moon thereby casting its shadow on its natural satellite. Several lunar eclipses may happen in a year, but not all of them can be seen from all the locations in the world.

The different types of lunar eclipses are partial lunar eclipses, total lunar eclipses, and penumbral lunar eclipses. In a total lunar eclipse, the entire moon is shadowed for some time; while in a partial eclipse, only a part of the moon is shadowed. In a penumbral eclipse, the moon is seen passing through the penumbra (outer peripheral part) of the earth’s shadow and hence only a subtle darkening of the moon is noticed during the process.

So, get ready to enjoy one more spectacular celestial sight on the night of May 5, 2023.

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