Blood Moon partially covered by the earth’s shadow during lunar eclipse in Hyderabad. File
| Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL
Residents of Hyderabad and Nalgonda will be able to witness a portion of the total lunar eclipse on Tuesday (March 3, 2026) although the spectacle will be limited to the concluding phase after moonrise, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Timings of lunar eclipse on March 3, 2026
In India, the eclipse would begin at 3.20 p.m. and end at 6.48 p.m., with the total phase lasting from 4.34 p.m. to 5.33 p.m. However, in these two locations of Telangana, the Moon will rise only after the totality has concluded, restricting visibility to the final umbral phase, which is the stage of a lunar eclipse when the Moon passes through the Earth’s darkest central shadow, called the umbra, causing a noticeable darkening or reddening of the Moon.
What is lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse occurs on a full moon day when the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Earth’s shadow to fall on the lunar surface. A total lunar eclipse takes place when the Moon passes completely through the Earth’s umbral shadow.
In Hyderabad, moonrise is expected at 6.22 p.m., giving observers a viewing window of around 26 minutes until the umbral phase ends at 6.48 p.m. In Nalgonda district, the Moon is likely to rise at about 6.19 p.m., allowing nearly 29 minutes of visibility under similar conditions.
The IMD said the eclipse will be visible from most parts of India, barring some regions in the extreme west. In contrast, parts of north eastern India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are expected to witness the end of the totality phase, as the Moon rises earlier in those areas.
Globally, the total lunar eclipse will be visible across large parts of eastern Asia, Australia, the Pacific Ocean and the Americas. The magnitude of the eclipse is 1.155, indicating a deep passage of the Moon through the Earth’s shadow.
Date of next lunar eclipse
The IMD noted that the next lunar eclipse visible from India will occur on July 6, 2028, and will be a partial lunar eclipse. The last total lunar eclipse visible from the country took place on September 7 and 8, 2025.
Published – March 02, 2026 04:16 pm IST
