Chandra Grahan 2023 in India: Know dates, timings, visibility, how to watch, other details

Chandra Grahan 2023 in India: Get ready for a celestial spectacle as a Lunar Eclipse or Chandra Grahan in the night sky on October 28-29, 2023. Set your reminders for late night on Saturday and Sunday this weekend as the month's second celestial event following the annular solar eclipse on October 14, Lunar Eclipse It will be visible from all places in India around midnight.

What is a Lunar Eclipse or Chandra Grahan?

A lunar eclipse or Chandra Grahan occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align so that the Moon passes into Earth's shadow. 

During a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon becomes encased in the darkest part of Earth's shadow, known as the umbra. The one on October 29th, however, will be a partial eclipse, which means the moon will be partially obscured.

When the moon passes through the umbra during a total lunar eclipse, it usually takes on a reddish hue. This is why lunar eclipses are sometimes referred to as "Blood Moons".

Chandra Grahan 2023: Dates

The Lunar Eclipse or Chandra Grahan 2023 is all scheduled to commence on October 28, 2023 (Saturday) and will extend to October 29, 2023 (Sunday). 

Chandra Grahan 2023: Timings 

In India, the Chandra Grahan will commence at around 11:31 pm and the eclipse's umbral phase will begin at 1:05 a.m. on October 29 and will end at 2:24 a.m. The eclipse will last 1 hour and 19 minutes. 

Chandra Grahan 2023: Visibility

The Chandra Grahan 2023 will be visible in any location where the Moon can be seen above the horizon. The Lunar Eclipse can be observed all across the regions of India around mid-night. Moreover, it will also be visible in Asia, Russia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, Antarctica and Oceania.

Chandra Grahan 2023: How to watch? 

Although, no special equipment is required to witness a lunar eclipse and one can watch with the naked eye by position yourself in a dark, light-free environment but it has also been recommended to watch the lunar eclipse with the aid of a telescope, binoculars, or glasses. You can also witness the lunar eclipse will be visible from a path prepared by In-The-Sky.org. 

Typically, people avoid eating during the eclipse and place tulsi leaves in food dishes, especially those containing milk. Chanting mantras and invoking the name of God are believed to minimise the eclipse's harmful effects.

Next lunar eclipse in India 

According to the reports and sources, the next visible lunar eclipse from India will be on September 7, 2025, and it will be a total eclipse. The last total lunar eclipse visible from India occurred on November 8, 2022.