How to View the Partial Lunar Eclipse (chandra grahan) on 18 September 2024
A partial lunar eclipse will occur in the early morning hours of 18 September 2024. During this event, a portion of the Moon will be obscured by Earth’s shadow, offering a fascinating astronomical sight for those who can view it.
This full moon coincides with the Harvest Moon, the full moon closest to the autumn equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. The full moon on September 18, 2024, will be the Harvest Moon since September 22, the actual autumnal equinox, falls on that day.
Best Time to Observe the Grahan
The optimal time to witness the lunar eclipse is between 01:41 and 05:47 BST (00:41–04:47 UTC) on 18 September 2024.
Eclipse Stages and Global Visibility
The full moon progresses through several stages:
- Penumbral Eclipse Begins (00:41 UTC): The grahan begins as Earth’s faint penumbral shadow starts to cover the Moon. This stage is subtle, and you may not notice the shading immediately.
- Partial Full Moon Begins (02:12 UTC): A dark “bite” will appear on one side of the Moon as Earth’s umbral shadow starts to cover it. The partial chandra grahan phase officially started with this.
- The maximum Eclipse (02:44 UTC): Only approximately eight percent of the Moon will be obscured by Earth’s shadow at the eclipse’s zenith. This is when the incident will be most prominent.
- Partial Eclipse Ends (03:16 UTC): Earth’s umbral shadow gradually moves off the Moon, and the partial chandra grahan comes to an end.
- Penumbral Eclipse Ends (04:47 UTC): chandra grahan concludes as the Moon fully exits Earth’s penumbral shadow.
During this grahan, Saturn will appear as a bright “star” near the Moon, enhancing the viewing experience.
Duration of the Eclipse
The total duration of the full moon will be approximately 246 minutes, or just over four hours. However, the partial chandra grahan, where Earth’s darker shadow covers the Moon, will only last 64 minutes.
Understanding Lunar Eclipses
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses can be observed from anywhere on Earth where the Moon is visible above the horizon during the event. This particular grahan will be visible from the UK, as well as many other parts of the world experiencing nighttime.
The two components of Earth’s shadow are the darker umbral shadow and the lighter penumbral shadow. If you were in a spacecraft within the penumbral shadow, you would witness a partial solar eclipse. The closer you move toward the umbral shadow, the more of the Sun would be hidden. Inside the umbral shadow, the Sun would be entirely obscured.
Earth is nearly four times larger than the Moon, meaning that from the Moon’s perspective, Earth’s shadow is also about four times larger than the Sun. As a result, Earth’s umbral shadow at the Moon’s distance is around four times wider than the Moon. On 18 September, the umbral shadow will span about 1.7° of the sky, while the Moon’s apparent diameter will be approximately 0.5°. The penumbral shadow will cover about 2.6° of the sky.
What to Expect During the Eclipse
If you observe the full moon on 18 September, here’s what you can expect:
- Penumbral Shadow: The incident begins when the Moon moves into Earth’s penumbral shadow at 01:41 BST (00:41 UTC). At first, the shading will be minimal and difficult to detect with the naked eye or even in photographs.
- Partial Eclipse: As the Moon moves deeper into the penumbral shadow and closer to the umbral shadow, the shading becomes more noticeable. By 03:12 BST (02:12 UTC), a distinct dark section will appear on the Moon’s northeast edge as it enters the umbral shadow. This is when this becomes visible.
- Greatest Eclipse: The darkest point of the incident occurs at 03:44 BST (02:44 UTC), when the umbra casts the deepest shadow on the Moon. At this time, the shadow may appear almost black, though photographs could reveal some color in the shadow.
- End of the Eclipse: The Moon will exit the umbral shadow at 04:16 BST (03:16 UTC) and leave the penumbral shadow at 05:47 BST (04:47 UTC), marking the end of the celestial incident.
Who Can See the amazing occurence?
A lunar eclipse is visible to anyone on Earth where the Moon is above the horizon during the event. Since the Moon is only visible at night, this means that regions experiencing nighttime while the eclipse occurs will be able to see it. However, some viewers may only see a partial view depending on their location, particularly if the Moon is near the horizon at moonrise or moonset.
For example, those in Europe, including the UK, will have a good view of the incident, while other locations may only see the eclipse during moonrise or moonset.
Conclusion
The partial chandra grahan on 18 September 2024 offers a unique opportunity to witness a celestial event where Earth’s shadow briefly covers part of the Moon. With the timing coinciding with the Harvest Moon, this event will be especially noteworthy. Observers can expect to see a subtle yet striking transformation as the Moon moves through Earth’s shadow over the course of several hours, culminating in a partial chandra grahan that will leave an unforgettable impression on skywatchers. there are another grahan will happen on October 2024.