India to witness total lunar eclipse on April 4

NEW DELHI: In a visual treat for celestial gazers, a total lunar eclipse will be witnessed in India on April 4.

The phenomenon will occur from 3.45 pm to 7.15 pm and the north-eastern states and the Andaman Islands in particular would be the best places to witness the celestial phenomenon.

"The initial umbral phase of the eclipse will not be seen in India. At the time of moonrise, the totality phases of the eclipse will be visible from the extreme north-eastern region of India and the Andaman and Nicober Islands. Rest parts of the country will only see the partial eclipse," a statement issued today said.

The totality phase will, however, last for a very short duration, it added.

Places in the country from where the totality phase will be seen at the time of moonrise are Aizawl, Dibrugarh, Imphal, Itanagar, Kohima, Tezu, Port Blair.

The eclipse will be visible over a vast swathe of region covering eastern Asia, Australia, North America, western half of South America, Antarctica, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

The places from where the beginning of the "umbral phase" owuld be visible at the time of moonset are Argentina, western part of Brazil, eastern part of the USA and Canada.

Likewise, the places from where the ending of umbral phase is visible at the time of moonrise are some parts of Pakistan, Kazakhstan, India and some parts of Russia, the statement said.