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Total Lunar Eclipse 2026: India to Witness Celestial Spectacle on March 3

A total lunar eclipse is confirmed for March 3, 2026, by the India Meteorological Department. The event will be visible across India, with timings spanning from 3:20 PM to 6:48 PM IST. The totality phase, when the Moon is completely in Earth's shadow, will last from 4:34 PM to 5:33 PM. The eclipse will also be observable in parts of Eastern Asia, Australia, and the Americas.

Key Points: Total Lunar Eclipse 2026: Timings & Visibility in India

  • Eclipse visible across India
  • Totality begins at 4:34 PM IST
  • Ends at 6:48 PM IST
  • Visible in East Asia, Australia, Americas
2 min read

India set to witness total lunar eclipse tomorrow, confirms IMD

IMD confirms a total lunar eclipse on March 3, 2026, visible across India. Get timings, visibility details, and the science behind the celestial event.

"A total lunar eclipse is set to occur on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, marking a significant astronomical event - India Meteorological Department"

New Delhi, March 2

A total lunar eclipse will take place across several time zones on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. In this, the Moon moves from right to left, passing through Earth's shadow.

According to the India Meteorological Department, a total lunar eclipse will occur when the whole Moon comes under the umbral shadow of the Earth, and a partial lunar eclipse occurs only when a part of the Moon comes under the shadow of the Earth.

India Meteorological Department, in a post on X, mentioned that a total lunar eclipse is set to occur on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, marking a significant astronomical event with a deep magnitude of 1.155. This phenomenon takes place when the entire Moon enters the Earth's umbral shadow, whereas a partial eclipse is limited to only a portion of the Moon being obscured. This particular total eclipse will be visible to observers across India, as well as in Eastern Asia, Australia, and the Americas".

In the Indian context, the experience will vary by region. Most of the places in India will observe the ending of the lunar eclipse at the time of moonrise, except some places of North-East India and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where the end of the totality phase of the eclipse will also be visible.

According to Indian Standard Time (IST), the celestial event will follow a specific schedule throughout the afternoon and evening. The eclipse is slated to begin at 15:20 (3:20 PM), with the totality phase starting at 16:34 (4:34 PM). The Moon will remain completely within the Earth's shadow until totality ends at 17:33 (5:33 PM), and the entire eclipse cycle will officially conclude at 18:48 (6:48 PM).

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are precisely aligned, and the Moon passes into the shadow of the Earth. During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon and blocks any direct sunlight from reaching the Moon.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The timings are perfect for an evening watch. It's fascinating how our ancestors tracked these events without modern tech. A reminder of how small we are in the cosmos.
A
Aman W
While the event is exciting, I wish IMD and other science bodies would do more outreach in regional languages. Many in my village won't know the exact timings or the science behind it.
S
Sarah B
Visiting India from the US and it's amazing this coincides with my trip! Looking forward to experiencing this celestial event from a different part of the world.
K
Karthik V
Good to see precise information from IMD. In the North-East, we'll get to see the end of totality as well. Time to get the telescope ready! Chand grahan, here we come.
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Nisha Z
Remember, no need for special glasses like a solar eclipse. You can watch the moon turn a coppery red with your naked eyes. A beautiful and safe spectacle for all.

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