`No superstitions please': Longest partial lunar eclipse to occur on Nov 19

Planetary Society, India said the eclipse will last for 3 hours 28 minutes, and 23 seconds. Society said between year 1400 and 2700, three lengthiest partial lunar eclipses could be sighted.

On February 18, 1440, the eclipse lasted for 3 hours 28 minutes, and 46 seconds. On Nov 19, 2021, it will last for 3 hours 28 minutes, and 23 seconds. On February 8, 2669, the eclipse will last for 3 hours, 30 minutes, and two seconds. This means the last time the lengthiest partial lunar eclipse occurred in 1440 and the next lengthiest partial lunar eclipse will occur in 2669.

Eclipse in various phases begins at 11.30 am on November 19, 2021, and ends at 5.35 p.m. The rare phenomenon will be visible in India from a few areas in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

It is also the second and last lunar eclipse of 2021. The last lunar eclipse visible from India occurred on 26 May 2021 which was visible only in a few places in India.

Why it is the longest

The moon will reach the farthest point in its orbit called Apogee. So the eclipse of the moon on 19 Nov occurs 41 hours before earth reaches Apogee. Because the moon on 19th Nov 2021 is farther away from earth, it will travel slower along its orbit causing the longest.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth in course of its orbit around the sun, comes between the moon and sun in such a way that the moon is hidden in the shadow cast by earth. This can occur only when the sun, earth, and moon are aligned in a straight line. Hence lunar eclipse occurs only when there is a full moon.

The next lunar eclipse visible from India which is a total lunar eclipse will occur on 8th Nov 2022. The last lunar eclipse visible from India occurred on 26 May 2021 which was visible only in a few places in India whereas the last opportunity to see a lunar eclipse for all people across India occurred on 31 January 2018 was a total lunar eclipse.