[Watch] 18 Yrs Later, Saturn Lunar Eclipse Occurs, Learn More About The Planet

Saturn captured by NASA's Cassini Spacecraft (credit: Black Hole on X)

Bhubaneswar: After 18 years, various parts of India witnessed ‘Shani Chandra Grahan’ or Saturn Lunar Eclipse on the night of July 24-25.

According to reports, the eclipse was visible for India Gate area in Delhi and West Bengal’s Kolkata.

Experts said it happens after every 18 years when the moon passes directly in front of the Saturn. The ringed planed, Saturn, is thus obscured from the view. This celestial event helps astronomers to study the visibility of Saturn

This rare event, which occurs approximately every 18 years, offers a unique opportunity for both amateur and professional astronomers to observe the hidden dance between the Moon and Saturn.

Earlier, lunar eclipse took place last year between October 28 and 29.

Some interesting facts about Saturn by NASA             

• It is named after the Roman God of agriculture and wealth
• It is nine times wider than earth with diameter of about 1,20,500km
• It has the second shortest day on solar system. A day on Saturn is of 10.7 hours.
• It has 146 moons in its orbit and some of them can possibly support life.
• Saturn’s rings are made of comets, asteroids and shattered moons.
• It doesn’t have a true surface, rather it is made of hydrogen and helium.
• It has many different shades of yellow, brown and grey