New Delhi: Sky gazers are in for a treat again as the first total lunar eclipse of 2022, also known as "supermoon", "blood moon" or "flower moon", will take place on May 15-16 intervening night. The moon will be bathed in the reflected red and orange hues of Earth's sunsets and sunrises for about 1-1.5 hours, one of the longest totalities of the decade. It will be the first of the two so-called blood moons in a year.


Total lunar eclipse 2022: Will Chandra Grahan be visible in India?


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While it will not be visible in India, skywatchers in the eastern half of North America and all of Central and South America will have prime seats for the whole hour-long show, weather permitting. 


Partial stages of the eclipse will also be visible across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Asia and Australia, however, will be left out. 




When will eclipse 2022 take place?


  • Penumbral Eclipse begins at 07:02 AM, May 16
  • Partial Eclipse begins at 07:57 AM, May 16
  • Full Eclipse begins at 08:59 AM, May 16
  • Maximum Eclipse at 09:41 AM, May 16
  • Full Eclipse ends at 10:23 AM, May 16
  • Partial Eclipse ends at 11:25 AM, May 16
  • Penumbral Eclipse ends at 12:20 PM, May 16

Total lunar eclipse 2022: How does it occur?


A total eclipse occurs when Earth passes directly between the moon and the sun and casts a shadow on our cosmic companion. In a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon falls within the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, called the umbra.



Watch Total lunar eclipse blood moon (Chandra Grahan) 2022 live



When the Moon is within the umbra, it turns a reddish hue. It is because of this phenomenon that Lunar eclipses are sometimes called "Blood Moons". 



There may be multiple partial lunar eclipses each year, but total eclipses are a bit rarer. The phenomenon takes place every 1.5 years.


Total lunar eclipse 2022: When will next blood moon take place?


The May 15-16 event will be the first of two total lunar eclipses in 2022 and the second one will take place on November 7-8. Then the next one isn't until 2025.


The length of totality for each of these eclipses is almost identical: 1 hour 24 minutes 50 seconds in May, and 1 hour 24 minutes 54 seconds in November. 


(With agency inputs)