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Lunar Eclipse on February 21, 2008

Eclipses perfectly visible in American continents and partially visible in Western Europe and Northwest Africa

During the year 2008, a total first lunar eclipse falls on February 21, 2008 with a clear and perfect visibility for most people of the two American continents. People of Western Europe and Northwest Africa also would have the visibility of the Total Lunar Eclipse. However, it is not visible in India as it takes place during early daytime as per Indian Standard Time.

An eclipse of the Moon can only take place, moon passes through some portion of the Earth's shadow during the Full Moon. Earth's shadow always looks like two con shaped parts with one shadow sitting in the other. The outer and inner shadows are known as penumbra and umbra respectively. Earth can block some of the sun's rays but the inner shadow prevents the Sun's rays totally from reaching the Moon.

If only a part of the Moon passes through the umbra, Partial Lunar eclipse takes place and when the Moon passes through the umbra in its entirety, Total Lunar eclipse takes place.

The timings of the Total Lunar Eclipse on February 21, 2008 are as under:

Eclipse begins: 06.06.35 IST
Partial Eclipse begins: 07.13.19 IST
Total Eclipse begins: 08.31.10 IST
Greatest Eclipse: 09.20.57 IST
Total Eclipse ends: 09.20.57 IST
Partial Eclipse ends: 10.38.47 IST
Eclipse ends: 11.45.39 IST

The eclipse takes place in the constellation of Magha owned by Ketu in the skies of Simha Rasi. Moon's association with Saturn standing for democracy indicates democratic countries. The eclipse takes place under the aspect of Guru that is placed in Dhannus Rasi. As far as India is concerned, the sign of hosting the eclipse would become the fourth house from Vrushaba, the ascendant of Indian Independence Chart. It stands for peace and development on a larger scale and the invisible eclipse indicates that the enemies of the country would try to destabilize the nation secretly but their efforts would end as futile exercises. The aspect of Guru from Dhannus means that the rays of the divine grace transmit their bliss directly from above to the democracy of the India.