Chandra Grahan 2018: Longest Lunar Eclipse of the 21st century on July 27

Chandra Grahan 2018 also known as Lunar Eclipse – much has been written about day after day. And you have been dreaming of the magical night to dawn. Just few more hours and the world will witness the blue moon turn hauntingly blood red on July 27.

The longest total chandra grahan in 21st century will last for three hours and 55 minutes, experts say. And the period when the moon will be completely darkened by the earth’s shadow will last one hour and 43 minutes.

The totality – the period when the moon will be engulfed by the shadow of the earth - chandra grahan 2018 will start around 3.30 pm EDT. During this moment, the moon will pass the shadow of the earth almost along its diameter, making the remarkable phenomenon a few minutes longer than usual. In the process, the moon will be “illuminated by red light filtered by the earth's atmosphere”, astronomers say.

People in Central Asia will be able to see the moon cross the earth’s shadow at 10:44 pm local time and can expect the chandra grahan to peak at around midnight.