December 2011, Lunar eclipse

On December 10, there will be a total lunar eclipse. This is the second lunar eclipse of 2011.

This total lunar eclipse would be seen in Northern Canada, Alaska, New Zealand, Australia, Eastern Asia and central Asia. People in Hawaii and North America can see the moon set in eclipse.

The best places where the total lunar eclipse, 2011 would be visible is in Eastern and Central Asia where you can take the best photographs of the eclipse. Those in the western coastal areas of Canada and United States of America can also see the beginning of the total lunar eclipse and can see the moon just disappearing in the western horizon. Though those viewing it on the eastern coast would not be seeing the beginning of the lunar eclipse before moon set.

Time of the December 2011, Lunar eclipse

The total eclipse is going to last for around 51 minutes. It starts at around 11.33 Universal time and would end at 14.06 Universal time. The highest point of the total lunar eclipse occurs at 14.31 Universal Time. The totality gets over at around 14.57 Universal Time. The eclipse finally ends at 17.29 Universal Time.

The Universal time is a timescale that is derived on the basis of the rotation of the earth. It is normally a second less than the Co ordinate Universal Time.

Time of the Eclipse in India

In India the total Lunar eclipse or the Chandra grahan will be occurring at around 18.16 p.m on December 10, 2011 to 21.48 p.m on December 10, 2011.

The moon would be fully covered from 19.36 p.m to 20.37 p.m on December 10, 2011.

The eclipse is beginning during moonrise in India so the first phase of the total lunar eclipse would not be visible in the country. According to NASA, the eclipse is occurring at the same time across India.

This is one of the six eclipses that have taken place in the year 2011.There have been four solar and two lunar eclipses in the year 2011. This four two combination is very rare and will occur only six times in the 21st century. Starting from 2011, the next would be in 2029, then in 2047, then 2076 and lastly in 2094. This total lunar eclipse is taking place on the descending route of the Moon in eastern Taurus four days after apogee.

United States of America would wake up to a blood red dawn. They can see the sinking moon in the western side and see the sun rising on the other. This could be one of the rarest moments for America. The light air with dust that encircles the earth becomes red and mingles with the sun light thus filling the dark portion behind Earth with a sunset red colour. Thus the sky becomes a blood red during the lunar eclipse. During a lunar eclipse the major portion of the light, crosses the Earth’s stratosphere. Here it gets scattered and turns red. The turquoise colour that could also come up in the eclipse is a result of the absorption of the red light in the ozone layer making the light look blue. This turquoise edge could be found in the edge of the eclipse. Look out for it.

Total Lunar Eclipse and Hindu legends and traditions

As per Hindu scriptures, an eclipse is a condition when the Moon, Sun and the Nodal positions of Ketu and Rahu come in a straight line. An eclipse occurs when the Moon or the soon is in one of the nodes. AS either the sun or the moon gets hidden while they are on the nodal positions, Rahu and Ketu are referred as the shadowy planets. Legend has it that Rahu and Ketu drank a little nectar during the great churning of the ocean. Lord Vishnu he came to know of this from the Moon and the Sun who reported the matter to him. Lord Vishnu used his Discus and tried to kill them. But one lost his head and the other his body as they had had the nectar.So the Rahu the northern node is the one without the head and Ketu the southern node is the one without the body. As the Moon and Sun were the ones who informed Lord Vishnu, it is believed that Rahu and Ketu trouble them a lot. So during eclipses quite logically from these legendary tales people chant hymns of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva who dark all the poison that came from the churning of the ocean.

The total lunar eclipse is occurring on the Taurus sign. As Ketu is involved in this eclipse, it is a south nodal occurrence. The effects in such an eclipse according to Indian astrology are believed to be very mild. It would thus only affect those related to moon, like the common man, family harmony, fish, shipping industry, and grocery and vegetables which are dependent on water.

India has its own traditional approach to eclipses. So normally people don’t eat during an eclipse. As the Indian stars Krittika, Hasta, Rohini, Mrigashira, SRavana and Hastam are affected by the eclipse you could donate coconuts and cash to the temple before sunset, and have your dinner before 5 p.m and a bath after 7 p.m on December 10, 2011.