Century's darkest Total lunar eclipse 15th June 2011.[Visible from India]

Calcuttans will witness the first total lunar eclipse of the year on the night of June 15. It will also be one of the longest and darkest lunar eclipses in recent times.​

The earth will start casting its shadow on the moon around 11.50pm. The total eclipse will begin at 12.52am and last till 2.32am. The partial eclipse will end around 3.50am on June 16.​

At 100 minutes, the total eclipse will last longer than the average lunar eclipse.​

The last time such a long total lunar eclipse occurred in the city was on July 16, 2000.​

The moon will pass through the central part of the earth’s shadow during the total eclipse, making it appear a little darker than the average eclipsed moon.​

Some scientists are claiming it to be the “darkest eclipse of the century”.​

The eclipse will be visible from all across India. It can also be seen from the eastern half of Africa, West Asia, central Asia and western Australia.​

“One should enjoy the sight, as the city will be at a vantage position with the moon at its zenith,” said Debiprosad Duari, director (research and academics), MP Birla Planetarium.​

The next total lunar eclipse, to be visible from India, will be on December 10, 2011. It will last only 25 minutes.​

After the December 10 eclipse, the city will next see a total lunar eclipse on January 31, 2018.​

A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth’s shadow falls on the moon. This happens only when the sun, the moon and the earth are in a straight line on a single plane and the earth is between the sun and the moon.​

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