Highlights | Chandra Grahan 2023 In India: Moon Dims Slightly In Year's First Lunar Eclipse

A penumbral lunar eclipse took place on May 5, 2023. The eclipse, which was visible from India, began around 8.44 pm and ended at 1.01 am on May 6.

After the rare hybrid solar eclipse of April 20, it was time for the year's first lunar eclipse. On Friday, May 5, 2023, a penumbral lunar eclipse began at around 8.44 pm IST and ended at 1:01 am on May 6. The Maximum Lunar Eclipse occurred at 10:52 pm on May 5. According to timeanddate.com, lunar eclipses are visible from everywhere on the night side of the Earth, if the sky is clear. From some places, the entire eclipse is visible, while in other areas the Moon will rise or set during the eclipse. Skywatchers need to note that since the May 5 eclipse was a penumbral one, and for this type of eclipse, one has to have acute eyesight and pay a lot of attention to decipher the eclipse. According to NASA, a penumbral eclipse happens when the Moon travels through Earth’s penumbra or the faint outer part of its shadow. The Moon dims so slightly that it can be difficult to notice. So unless you know a penumbral eclipse is happening, you might miss it. On May 5, the regions that witnessed at least some parts of the Penumbral Eclipse included Asia, Australia, Africa, the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Antarctica, and most of Europe.

06 May 2023

01:00 IST

Chandra Grahan 2023: Next Lunar Eclipse Date

The next lunar eclipse will be on October 28 and it will be a partial one. A total lunar eclipse will again take place not before March 2025.

22:39 IST

Penumbral Lunar Eclipses Are Less 'Dramatic'

In what’s known as a penumbral lunar eclipse, the full moon passed within the outer part of Earth’s shadow, causing the moon to dim only slightly. Such an eclipse isn't as dramatic as a partial lunar eclipse or a total lunar eclipse when the moon, Earth, and sun are perfectly aligned.