Super Blue Blood Moon: Rare astronomical event leaves millions awestruck in India

NEW DELHI: The total lunar eclipse was first sighted in the eastern states of India on Wednesday as scores of people came out on streets and some witness this rare astronomical phenomenon from their rooftops. It became visible in India a little later than expected on Wednesday but when it did, millions of stargazers across the country relished the rare celestial triple delight with a sense of awe. First pictures came from Assam's capital Guwahati where people were waiting for this celestial spectacle.

First visuals of eclipse from Guwahati and Kolkata #SuperBlueBloodMoon https://t.co/ltXO0PIGSJ pic.twitter.com/CzZnkCcYQQ

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) January 31, 2018

The total lunar eclipse, which can be seen from everywhere in India, began at 5.20 pm with what is called the partial shadow or penumbra of the earth s shadow striking the moon. Thus after a gap of 150 years, blue moon, blood moon and super moon are set to occur at the same time. This event worth a watch! In Delhi the eclipse began at 5.53 PM. It will last for a total of 3 hours, 45 minutes during which there will be a total eclipse of one minute 32 seconds starting at 6.59 PM. The eclipse will end at 9.38 PM. Many organisations across the country stepped in to enhance the show which was also visible to the naked eye. SPACE India, a start-up focused on astronomy education and astro-tourism services, organised several events at various locations across the country to observe the phenomenon from 6 p.m.-9.30 p.m. At India Gate, SPACE India used the Dobsonian telescope which gave a very clear and crisp view of the "Supermoon". The instrument allowed skywatchers to view the Moon 20 times bigger than it appears to the naked eye.

#Visuals of #SuperBlueBloodMoon from four Indian cities. LIVE coverage: https://t.co/ltXO0PIGSJpic.twitter.com/YWqS5Sj6ir — ABP News (@abpnewstv) January 31, 2018

More visuals of #SuperBlueBloodMoon Detailed coverage on ABP News: https://t.co/ltXO0PIGSJ pic.twitter.com/FwfQkYClz5 — ABP News (@abpnewstv) January 31, 2018

Super blood blue moon pictures:

Kerala: #SuperBlueBloodMoon seen in Thiruvananthapuram pic.twitter.com/8PxnkpStAb

— ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2018

#Visual of #SuperBlueBloodMoon from Assam's Guwahati pic.twitter.com/KxybHYpfUI — ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2018

Punjab: #SuperBlueBloodMoon seen in Ludhiana pic.twitter.com/1NNAZvR8W7

— ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2018

LIVE NOW: Watch views of the #SuperBlueBloodMoon from multiple telescopes. Take a look: https://t.co/a5ScGDXhQu — NASA (@NASA) January 31, 2018

???? ???? Here comes the #SuperBlueBloodMoon! https://t.co/AOZEItnNS8 pic.twitter.com/vhBhGR6h08 — Channel NewsAsia (@ChannelNewsAsia) January 31, 2018

Some of my #SuperBlueBloodMoon photos. Not much to see after, as the moon became cloaked in haze. pic.twitter.com/Q4oCdJMBlN — Ross Brown (@BrownKnowser) January 31, 2018

the moon tonight ???? #SuperBlueBloodMoon pic.twitter.com/0oM9BaGlXD — ????????‍♀️ (@shuningggg_) January 31, 2018

Eclipse time. Crappy iPhone shot but still cool. #eclipse #SuperBlueBloodMoon #Japan pic.twitter.com/BoKx4ZEey2 — Phoenyx ✌???? (@phx787) January 31, 2018

what else can I say? #SuperBlueBloodMoon pic.twitter.com/g0Ov7o9uB4 — nikki ✨ (@_vianicss) January 31, 2018

The main eclipse in India started around 6.25 pm after sunset and this can be seen in the eastern sky as the moon would have just risen by then. India is witnessing the Blood Moon after nearly 36 years -the last one was in 1982. The positions and distances of the moon and the earth, relative to the sun on this occasion, were such that the moon would appear slightly bigger (about 10 per cent or more) and a little brighter on this day. The super blue moon will pass through Earth's shadow to give viewers in the right location a total lunar eclipse. And while the Moon is in the Earth's shadow it will take on a reddish tint, known as a "blood moon."