One of the biggest astronomical events on 28 August 2026 will be the Chandra Grahan. It will be a deep partial lunar eclipse, with the bulk of the Moon passing into the Earth’s dark central shadow. The entire event will last for around 5 hours and 38 minutes.But this entire period includes the lighter penumbral stages. The more visually striking partial eclipse will last approximately 3 hours and 18 minutes.
Chandra Grahan 2026 Start and End Time in India
The eclipse will happen during the day, so most of India will not be able to see it, but its astronomical timings can be converted into Indian Standard Time.The eclipse schedule in IST on 28 August 2026 is:·Penumbral eclipse begins: 6:53 AM·Partial lunar eclipse begins: 8:03 AM·Maximum eclipse: 9:42 AM·Partial eclipse ends: 11:21 AM·Penumbral eclipse ends: 12:31 PM
How Long Will Chandra Grahan 2026 Last?
The eclipse begins when the Moon enters the very edge of the Earth’s penumbral shadow, and ends when the Moon leaves that shadow, about five and a half hours later – five hours and 38 minutes, to be precise.The more noticeable part is way shorter. The Moon starts entering the umbra of the Earth at 8.03 am IST and exits the umbra at 11.21 am. The partial “Chandra Grahan” will be visible for about 3 hours and 18 minutes.The maximum eclipse will be at around 9:42 am IST. At this time, the umbral shadow of the Earth will cover approximately 96.2 per cent of the surface area of the Moon. The eclipse magnitude is calculated to be 0.930.
Will It Be a Total Lunar Eclipse?
No. The event on August 28 is a partial lunar eclipse in name only.Because so much of the lunar disc moves into the dark shadow, it could look like a near-total eclipse. But there is still a narrow area outside the umbra. So, there is no totality everywhere.That’s why, from places where the Moon is above the horizon, the eclipse could still look dramatic.
Where Will the August 2026 Lunar Eclipse Be Visible?
Best visibility will be in North America, South America and parts of Europe and Africa. Some western parts of Asia can also see parts of the event. Visibility depends on whether the Moon is above the local horizon at each stage of the eclipse.The eclipse will be especially well positioned for viewers over parts of the Americas.
