flickr.com taken on Feb 21 2008 (total solar eclipse) image:42302:1::0

While the lunar eclipse would be partial, over 80% of the moon's diameter would be covered by the darker shadow of the earth at the time of the eclipse.

A lunar eclipse can occur on a full moon day and only if the moon passes through some area of the earth's shadow.
And that can only happen when the sun, earth and moon are aligned exactly or very closely, with the earth in the center.


There are at least two partial lunar eclipses in a year, total eclipses are comparatively rare.

The next partial eclipse shall occur on February 9,2009 and a total eclipse shall occur on December 21, 2010. The most recent total Lunar eclipse occurred on February 21. 2008.


In India, the partial lunar eclipse shall be visible from 1:06 am to 4:14am on August 17.

For timings in your area,you may click on the following link and study the chart.