India Witnesses Shani Chandra Grahan After 18-Year Gap

Various parts of India experienced the Shani Chandra Grahan or Lunar Occultation of Saturn on the night of July 24-25. The rare celestial event, last seen 18 years ago, provided astronomers unique opportunities for studying the visibility of Saturn as the Moon passed directly in front of it.

On the night of July 24-25, various parts of India witnessed the Shani Chandra Grahan, also known as the Lunar Occultation of Saturn. This rare celestial event was visible in diverse locations, including Delhi's India Gate and Kolkata in West Bengal.

The Shani Chandra Grahan occurs when the Moon passes directly in front of Saturn, temporarily obscuring the ringed planet from view. This event not only underscores the intricate movements of celestial bodies but also presents a prime opportunity for astronomers to study Saturn's visibility.

Making a return after 18 years, the event offered astronomers unique chances to examine the celestial phenomena involving the Moon and Saturn. The most recent lunar eclipse before this event occurred between October 28 and 29, 2023.

The eclipse was observed in various locations, such as Nehru Planetarium in Delhi, Siliguri in West Bengal, Rajkot in Gujarat, and Chembur in Mumbai. A lunar eclipse happens when the Moon moves into Earth's shadow, causing a temporary darkening.

This alignment occurs during an eclipse season, roughly every six months during the full moon phase when the Moon's orbital plane is nearest the Earth's orbital plane. The Sun, Earth, and Moon need to be closely aligned in syzygy, with Earth positioned between the other two, a condition possible only on the night of a full moon when the Moon is near a lunar node. (ANI)