This Sunday night, the skies over Goa will come alive with a rare astronomical phenomenon — a total lunar eclipse known as the Blood Moon. The spectacle will begin at 8:58 PM on September 7, with the main eclipse phase lasting from 9:57 PM to 1:26 AM. The most breathtaking moment, when the Moon takes on a deep coppery red hue, will occur at exactly 11:41 PM.
The Blood Moon occurs when the Earth comes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow that turns the Moon a reddish shade due to the refraction of sunlight through Earth’s atmosphere. Unlike solar eclipses, this lunar event is entirely safe to observe with the naked eye and requires no special equipment.
According to Satish Nayak, president of the Public Astronomical Observatory and Association of Friends of Astronomy (Goa), this kind of alignment is rare due to the tilt of the Moon’s orbit. The eclipse will be visible across India, eastern Africa, western Australia, and Central Asia — provided the skies remain clear.
In Goa, astronomy enthusiasts are in for a treat as the Association of Friends of Astronomy is organizing free public viewing sessions across five locations. From 10:30 PM to midnight, skywatchers can head to Panaji Junta House Observatory, Margao Ravindra Bhavan Observatory, Porvorim Vidya Prabhodini High School, Mapusa Bodgeshwar Temple Ground, and the 1930 Vasco Mall Terrace.
Whether you’re an astronomy buff or a curious observer, this Blood Moon promises to be a mesmerizing event you won’t want to miss. So mark your calendars, look up, and prepare to be awed by the cosmos.
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