A partial lunar eclipse will be visible in West Bengal and other parts of India, Asia, Europe, Africa, and Russia on the night of October 28, continuing into the early hours of October 29, according to astrophysicist Debi Prasad Duari.
The eclipse will occur when the moon partially enters the Earth’s shadow. The first phase of the eclipse, known as the penumbral eclipse, will begin at around 11:31 p.m. Indian Standard Time (IST) on October 28. The second phase, known as the umbral eclipse, will begin at around 1:05 a.m. IST on October 29 and reach its maximum at around 1:44 a.m. IST. The eclipse will end at around 2:23 a.m. IST.
The magnitude of the partial lunar eclipse will be around 0.12, meaning that up to 12% of the lunar disk will be obscured.
People in West Bengal will be able to see the eclipse without any special equipment, as long as the skies are clear. Binoculars or a small telescope may help to enhance the view.
The partial lunar eclipse will occur on the same night as Laksmi Puja, a major Hindu festival. Mr. Duari said that many people may choose to celebrate the festival and watch the eclipse at the same time.
