Lunar Eclipse 2024: Know date and timings; will it be visible in India?

The world is all set to witness two major celestial events -- the lunar eclipse on March 25 and the total solar eclipse that will graze the skies on April 8. This time, the lunar eclipse coincides with the auspicious occasion of Holi, which will be celebrated on Monday, March 25. It will be visible in several cities around the world.

In astrology, the anticipation of a worldwide lunar eclipse initiates a significant change in planetary alignment.

A penumbral lunar eclipse takes place when the Earth comes in between the Moon and the Sun. However, the three of them do not form a perfect straight line. During the lunar eclipse, the Earth partially blocks sunlight from touching the Moon's surface, casting a faint shadow on it. This results in a subtle darkness on the Moon's surface.

A total lunar eclipse happens when the Moon passes directly through the main shadow (the umbra) of the Earth.

This time, the celestial event can be seen across various cities on Earth, based on the time and date.

According to reports, it will be visible in most areas of Europe, North and East Asia, parts of Australia, parts of Africa, and North America among other regions.

Among the cities that will witness the celestial event are New York, Mexico City, Havana, Suva, Reykjavik, San Juan, Anadyr, Montevideo, Santiago, Tegucigalpa, Auckland, Buenos Aires, Guatemala City, Lima, Kingston, San Salvador, La Paz, Asuncion, Bogota, Kiritimati, Nassau, Caracas, Managua, Santo Domingo, Rio de Janeiro, Washington DC, Sydney and others.

The penumbral lunar eclipse is expected to begin at 10:23 am IST on March 25 (Monday). However, it will not be visible in India as it will take place below the horizon this time. The lunar eclipse is a cosmic reminder of the eternal dance of the cosmos.