Lunar Eclipse 2020 LIVE Updates: Timings, other facts to keep in mind about today’s eclipse

Thanks to YouTube, there are plenty of resources available for watching a livestream of the Lunar eclipse, even if you can't see it in the sky. One good source is the official channel for timeanddate.com. The feed will go live at 2.00 pm for those waiting to watch from India. 

As the lunar eclipse is below the horizon, only some parts of Eastern India will be able to see it. States like Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh will get a glance of it if they watch it on time. It should also be noted that visibility in your state will also depend on weather conditions. So, if it is foggy, you might not be able to see the last lunar eclipse of 2020.

The lunar eclipse today is the last one of 2020. The next total lunar eclipse will actually take place in May, 2021. The date will be May 26. So yes, it will be a long wait for the next lunar eclipse. This will be a total lunar eclipse, but it will not be visible in India. 

This is also a full Moon. As NASA's website points out, the Moon will appear full for about three days around this time, from Saturday night through Tuesday morning, which is till December 1. In India, it is Kartik Purnima. According to NASA, "the Moon will be close enough to opposite the Sun that it will pass through the partial shadow of the Earth, with 83 percent of the Moon in the partial shadow." Another fact to keep in mind: NASA says the penumbral eclipse will ensure that for the spacecraft at the Moon such as the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) the reduction in solar power will be noticeable.

Yes. Completely. Unlike a solar eclipse which can cause eye damage if you look at it directly, a lunar eclipse is totally safe to view. You don't need any fancy equipment for this and if the lunar eclipse is visible in your part of the world, you will be able to see it with the naked eye. However, if you have a telescope then that will always make watching the eclipse a better experience. 

Thanks to YouTube, there are plenty of resources available for watching a livestream of the Lunar eclipse, even if you can't see it in the sky. One good source is the official channel for timeanddate.com. The feed will go live at 2.00 pm for those waiting to watch from India. 

This lunar eclipse is not visible for most parts of India. However, the greatest eclipse or the point at which the axis of the Moon's shadow passes closest to the center of the Earth, will take place at 9.44 am UT which is 3.14 pm, Indian Standard Time. Some parts of India might seen the lunar eclipse at Moonrise, according to NASA's official page which keeps a track of all lunar eclipses. You can get the details here.

There are three kinds of lunar eclipses. In a total lunar eclipse, the Earth comes between the Moon and the Sun and completely blocks the sunlight from reaching the satellite. In the partial eclipse, the Moon comes in the Earth's outer penumbra or shadow, before sweeping through the dark umbral shadow. In a penumbral lunar eclipse, the Moon moves through the outer part of the Earth's shadown. The Earth covers the Moon with the outer part of its shadow, which is known as the penumbra. 

The Lunar Eclipse will be visible in:Asia, Australia, Pacific and the Americas. It will not be visible in India though. This is a penumbral eclipse.