New Delhi, Sep 5 : The upcoming lunar eclipse on Sunday (September 7) will be a rare astronomical alignment, a leading astronomer said.

The eclipse, visible across most parts of India, will be the year's longest and is expected to spark wide public curiosity from villages to cities.

Speaking to IANS, Nehru Centre Planetarium (Mumbai) Director Arvind Paranjpye noted that this will be a total lunar eclipse beginning at around 8.58 p.m.

The totality, when the Moon is completely covered by Earth's shadow, will start close to 11 p.m. and reach its peak at 11.42 p.m. The eclipse will last well into the night, finally ending at 1.26 a.m.

"This is a long-duration eclipse. At its peak, the Moon will appear dark and may even take on a brick-red hue," Paranjpye told IANS, adding that such colour changes occur because Earth's atmosphere scatters blue light while allowing red light to reach the lunar surface.

He also said that while astrology often associates lunar eclipses with auspicious or inauspicious effects, science views them as a purely natural event.

"There is no need for fear or superstition. Unlike a solar eclipse, you don't need any special filters to watch a lunar eclipse. It is perfectly safe to view with the naked eye," he noted.

Recalling his own experiences, Paranjpye mentioned past eclipses that appeared extraordinary, including one in the 1970s when volcanic ash made the Moon seem to vanish completely for a few minutes.

"Such sights remind us that eclipses are among the most beautiful celestial events one can witness," he said.

He encouraged people to enjoy the phenomenon, click photographs, and cherish the memory.

"If the skies are clear, it will be a wonderful opportunity for everyone in India to witness one of nature's finest spectacles," Paranjpye added.

The September 7 lunar eclipse is the last of the year and, according to astronomers, one of the most significant celestial events of 2025.

/IANS