Stargazing Session: Total Lunar Eclipse on Sharad Purnima
Date
Sunday, September 7, 2025
Location
Old Basketball Court, IIIT Bangalore
Stargazing Session: Total Lunar Eclipse
Night of Sharad Purnima · September 7, 2025 · 11 PM – 1 AM
On the auspicious night of Sharad Purnima, ECLIPSE gathered at the old basketball court to observe the Total Lunar Eclipse — one of the most visually dramatic events the sky can offer.
A Night of Patience
The session began under heavily clouded skies. The Moon was completely hidden, and for a while there was genuine doubt about whether the eclipse would be visible at all. Students kept looking up every few minutes, searching for even a small break in the clouds.
Then, slowly and almost unexpectedly, the sky began to clear.
What started as brief gaps turned into longer stretches of clear sky. The Moon finally revealed itself — and it was worth the wait.
Totality
As the eclipse progressed, participants watched the full moon gradually dim and slip into Earth’s shadow. Through the telescope, the transformation was even more striking. The Moon’s appearance shifted noticeably as it moved toward totality, taking on a deep reddish tone — the characteristic “blood moon” caused by Earth’s atmosphere refracting sunlight onto the lunar surface.
The excitement was quiet but real. People pointing things out, calling others to take a look, and simply standing still to take it all in.
What Made It Special
Stargazing often demands patience. Clouds, humidity, and light pollution are constant obstacles. This night had all of those — and then the sky opened up anyway.
That shift from doubt to wonder is something no photograph can fully capture. It has to be experienced in the moment, together.
Organized by ECLIPSE Astronomy Club, IIIT Bangalore. Approved by Dean (SA).