After 372 years, winter solstice coincides with lunar eclipse
New Delhi: After 372 years, sky gazers are in for a special celestial treat as a winter solstice coincides with total lunar eclipse on Tuesday.
The last time the two astronomical events coincided was on December 21, 1638, Geoff Chester of the U.S. Naval Observatory said.
Coppery-red moon
The eclipse cannot be seen in the country as it occurs during daytime.
But astro-lovers can see the full moon turning into a delightful shade of coppery-red from Europe, West Africa, the Americas, the Pacific Ocean, eastern Australia, the Philippines and eastern and northern Asia.
Shortest day
Also, Tuesday is the shortest day of the year as people living on the northern side of the equator will celebrate the winter solstice.
“It is a day when the earth's axis tilts the farthest from the sun and is called winter solstice, a term derived from Latin words sol [sun] and sistere [to stand still],” according to Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE) president C.B. Devgun. — PTI
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