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M Karunanidhi died | End of an era

DMK's longest-serving chief and stalwart Muthuvel Krunanidhi died on Tuesday, 7 August at age 94. He was buried next to his mentor and former chief minister C N Annadurai at the Marina beach today. Karunanidhi has left behind 4 sons and two daughters from three marriages. His son MK Stalin is the present president of DMK. Karunanidhi was being treated for fever and urinary tract infection at Chennai’s Kauvery Hospital. Karunanidhi had been sick since October 2016. Recently, he underwent a surgery to change his tracheostomy tube, in order to fix his breathing problem. As a mark of respect for the five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned after leaders paid respect to Karunanidhi. DMK leaders have requested grieving party workers and supporters to maintain calm. M Karunanidhi life at a glance M Karunanidhi born in Thirukkuvalai village in Nagapattinam district,  as a son of Muthuvelu and Anju. His original name is Dakshinamurth...
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Longest Lunar Eclipse of the Century

Red Moon: Total Lunar Eclipse

Total Lunar Eclipse
Image Credit: Pixabay.com

A Celestial Spectacle!

Get ready to watch a phenomenal sight in the sky today as Moon changes its color to red. A total lunar eclipse, longest of 21st century will occur on Friday 27 July and Saturday 28 July. This can be seen from almost all parts of the world except USA, Canada and Greenland.

When and how long will century's longest lunar eclipse occur?

Century's longest lunar eclipse will occur on Friday-Saturday, July 27-28. The whole phenomenon will take 4 hours and three main stages to complete.
The first stage: The partial eclipse begins at 7:24 pm CET (10:54 pm IST).
The second stage: Total eclipse starting at 8:30 pm CET (12:00 am IST) and ending at 10:13 pm CET (1:43 am IST).
The greatest eclipse occurs at 9:22 pm CET (12:52 am IST).
The third stage: The partial eclipse will finish at 11:19 pm CET (2:49 am IST).

What is the Partial lunar Eclipse?

When only a part of Moon is under the shadow of Earth, the eclipse is called partial lunar eclipse.

What is the total lunar Eclipse?

When whole Moon is under the shadow of Earth, the eclipse is called total lunar eclipse.

What is Greatest eclipse?

It is defined as the instant when the axis of the Moon's shadow cone passes closest to Earth's center.

Where can century's longest lunar eclipse be seen from?

Weather permitting, can be seen through most of Africa, the Middle East, southern Asia and the Indian Ocean region. Sadly, North America will miss out.

How to watch lunar eclipse?

All needed is a clear view of the night sky. The sight can be enjoyed with naked eye. A pair of binoculars would be an icing on the cake. Protective glasses or filters are not needed to view a lunar eclipse as the moon never gets bright enough to cause a danger to eyes.

How lunar eclipse occurs?

Moon does not emit any light rather it look bright because of the reflection of the sunlight coming from it. When lunar eclipse occurs the Sun, the Earth and the Moon become perfectly aligned. The Earth in the middle prevents sunlight from reaching the Moon. And Moon gets invisible.

Why the Moon turns red during total lunar eclipse?

What is Blood Moon?

Red moon
Image Credit: Pixabay.com

The most spectacular part about a total lunar eclipse is that when the moon is fully in Earth’s shadow it turns red. This is why the phenomenon is also called the blood moon. The red colour happens because of Earth's atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth deflects the sunlight and bends red light from the sun like a lens into the space behind Earth – and so on to the surface of the eclipsed moon. The clearer the atmosphere, the brighter and lighter the red colour appears to be. If Earth had no atmosphere then the totally eclipsed moon would be black.

Why the duration of the total lunar eclipse on 27th July is longest?

At this time of a year (in July) the Earth reaches the farthest point (aphelion) from the Sun on its orbit for the year. At aphelion, the Earth's dark umbral shadow reaches maximum length (and width) for the year. The greater width of the Earth's umbra in July means a longer total lunar eclipse. And this time, the moon is passing closer to the centre of the umbral cone, making a little bit longer. NASA has predicted it to be the longest lunar eclipse in 21st century.

How many lunar eclipses will there be this century?

According to Nasa there will be 230 lunar eclipses in the 21st century. Of these, only 85 will be total lunar eclipses. Today’s eclipse will be the 17th and the longest total lunar eclipse of the century with a duration of 1 hour 43 minutes and 35 seconds.

When will the next lunar eclipse occur?

The next lunar eclipse will occur on 21 January 2019.
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M Karunanidhi died | End of an era

DMK's longest-serving chief and stalwart Muthuvel Krunanidhi died on Tuesday, 7 August at age 94. He was buried next to his mentor and former chief minister C N Annadurai at the Marina beach today. Karunanidhi has left behind 4 sons and two daughters from three marriages. His son MK Stalin is the present president of DMK. Karunanidhi was being treated for fever and urinary tract infection at Chennai’s Kauvery Hospital. Karunanidhi had been sick since October 2016. Recently, he underwent a surgery to change his tracheostomy tube, in order to fix his breathing problem. As a mark of respect for the five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned after leaders paid respect to Karunanidhi. DMK leaders have requested grieving party workers and supporters to maintain calm. M Karunanidhi life at a glance M Karunanidhi born in Thirukkuvalai village in Nagapattinam district,  as a son of Muthuvelu and Anju. His original name is Dakshinamurth...
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