Lunar Eclipse 2020: Dates, Sutak, & More

Lunar Eclipse 2020 – discover all information about the moon eclipse here. Read to find out the times, dates, types, visibility, and more.

हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें: चंद्र ग्रहण 2020

A Lunar Eclipse is a significant astronomical event. You can get all the information you need, and answers to all your queries about the Lunar Eclipse 2020 here. Any eclipse affects the Earth deeply, but especially a Lunar Eclipse because the Moon is responsible for many natural events like the high and low tides. As a result, everyone wants to know when and where the Lunar Eclipses will occur in 2020. This is why MyKundali is here with this article on Lunar Eclipse 2020 . We will discuss how many times Lunar Eclipse will happen in 2020, what will be their dates and timings, where they will be visible, and more. You will also get to know what is Blood Moon, Wolf Moon, and other such terms associated with a Lunar Eclipse.

Without any further delay, let us move on to read Lunar Eclipse 2020.

Lunar Eclipse: Explaining The Astronomical Event

When the Earth comes between the Moon and the Sun, it causes a Lunar Eclipse. What happens is that as the Moon revolves around the Earth, and the Earth revolves around the Sun, the three celestial bodies fall in a straight line occasionally. When this event occurs, and either the Earth or the Moon comes between the other two, it causes an eclipse.

During a Lunar eclipse, the Earth obstructs the Sun’s rays from reaching the Moon directly. As a result, the Moon, in its revolutionary orbits, moves through the Earth’s shadow, formed due to the Sun’s position behind it. Therefore, the shadow darkens the lunar surface, and then it seems to turn red. This reddish hue occurs because the sunlight passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, whose gaseous layer filters and refracts them, making the Moon seem red.

A common question that can crop up at this time is – Why don’t we have a Lunar Eclipse every month since the Moon revolves around the Earth regularly? The answer to this question is the revolutionary orbit of the Moon. The satellite's orbital plane is slightly tilted as compared to the Earth’s trajectory around the Sun. Therefore, even though the Moon is behind the Earth at times, however, the Sun’s rays still reach it directly.

Talking about the significant differences between the Solar and Lunar Eclipses, while the former occurs for mere minutes, due to the small size of the Moon, whereas the latter can continue for hours. Additionally, we can watch the Lunar Eclipse without any safety goggles for our eyes, however watching the Solar eclipse with naked eyes is harmful.

Different Types Of Moons

Blood Moon, Super Moon, Wolf Moon are some terms that have become renowned throughout the globe. However, we often get confused about these. We have discussed some of these terms below:

Blood Moon

This moon directly connects to the effects of a total lunar eclipse. Even though there will be no Blood Moon 2020, however, we are explaining this term here. A Blood Moon is called so because of its blood-red hue that it gets during the eclipse.

As mentioned earlier, during a Lunar Eclipse, the Earth comes in between the Sun and the Moon. As a result, the Sun’s rays reach the Moon after passing through the Earth’s atmosphere. Due to this, the gaseous layer and the molecules of Earth’s atmosphere filter the sunlight, and refracts it, scattering out most of the blue light.

Ergo, the red refracted rays cause the Moon to take on a reddish glow when viewed from the Earth.

Super Moon

The Super Moon is called so due to its seemingly larger size when viewed from the Earth. The scientifically called perigean full moon looks larger than usual because it is closest to the Earth at this time, in its revolutionary orbit.

Blue Moon

Blue Moon is the additional full moon that happens in a season. This event occurs every two and a half year, like clockwork.

Wolf Moon

Wolf Moon is the name given to the Full Moon that falls in January. This was because, in the areas where people came up with this name, wolves would typically howl more in the first month of the year.

Lunar Eclipse 2020

The coming year will host four Lunar Eclipses, and the first Moon eclipse 2020 will fall in the initial month itself. Intriguingly, all of them will be Penumbral Lunar eclipse – neither a Total Lunar Eclipse nor a Partial Lunar Eclipse will occur this year. As the Earth makes its revolutions around the Sun, the latter causes the planet to cast a shadow behind it. The Moon, in its revolutions around the Earth, passes through the penumbra part of the shadow, while the three celestial bodies are in a straight line. This causes a slight dimming of the lunar surface, which is called a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. The Earth does not blanket the entire light from the Sun. Instead, the Moon darkens subtly due to the shadow of the Earth.

As mentioned earlier, the first Lunar Eclipse 2020 will fall during 10-11 January, while the second eclipse will occur on 5-6 June. After that, the third Lunar Eclipse 2020 will be appearing on 5 July, and the last Eclipse of the moon on 30 November 2020.

Lunar Eclipse 2020: Timings & Visibility

The January Lunar Eclipse 2020 will be visible over parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.

You can see the Lunar Eclipse in June 2020 over parts of Africa, Europe, Australia, and Asia.

Parts of Southwest Europe, America, and Africa will be able to see the July Lunar Eclipse 2020.

The Lunar Eclipse November 2020 will be visible over parts of Australia, Asia, Pacific Ocean, and America.

Sutak Kaal In Lunar Eclipse

The Sutak Kaal is an inauspicious period that commences a few hours before the Eclipse and ends with it. The Sutak period for a Lunar Eclipse lasts for three prahars. Since one prahar is of approximately 3 hours (1 day = time between one sunrise and other = 8 prahars = 24 hours), therefore, the sutak begins precisely 9 hours before the Lunar Eclipse. However, it is worth noting that sutak is valid only in places where the moon eclipse is visible.

Scriptures forbid many tasks during the Sutak period. Simultaneously, they also recommend some, to get rid of the malefic effects of the Eclipse. One should never do the jobs that are prohibited in the Sutak Kaal because these things offer negative results to the natives. One often has to suffer the consequences of doing anything in the Sutak period. On the other hand, on doing the recommended tasks in this duration, you will get the blessings of the Lord and safety from the malefic vibes of the Lunar Eclipse 2020.

Lunar Eclipse 2020 Sutak Kaal: Precautions & Remedies

We are going to discuss some essential precautionary measures that you should follow during the Sutak Kaal of the Lunar eclipse 2020. These will ensure that you avoid the harmful effects of the Grahan dosha:

Precautions For Lunar Eclipse 2020

• The Sutak Kaal is an inauspicious period that begins hours before the Lunar Eclipse. Therefore no new or auspicious task should be started at this time; otherwise, you will get only adverse outcomes for them.
• One should not cook or even eat once the Sutak Kaal has started.
• Getting in contact with the idols of Gods and Goddesses, the place of worship at our home, or the sacred Basil plant (Tulsi) is also forbidden. This is considered inauspicious from a religious point of view.
• Personal work like brushing or cleaning our teeth, combing, cutting nails, etc. should also not be done once the Sutak Kall begins.
• Using the loo during this period is forbidden because such tasks are also considered inauspicious.
• One should also not let libidinous thoughts come to their minds during the Sutak period.

Remedies During Lunar Eclipse

At the same time, particular tasks should be done during the Sutak period to invalidate or at any rate compromise the harmful effects of Lunar Eclipse 2020 (Grahan dosha). These remedies are:

• One should worship Lord Shiva at this time. Doing so will fill you with positivity.
• Paying homage to Chandra Deva (Lord Moon) during the Lunar Eclipse is also considered auspicious.
• Chant mantras identified with Lunar Eclipse, devotedly to avoid the malefic Grahan dosha.

Tasks To Do After Lunar Eclipse 2020 Ends

As the Eclipse and its Sutak period come to an end, we should necessarily do specific tasks to purify our homes, ourselves, and to avoid the consequences of the curse:

• Take a bath immediately after the Eclipse ends. Then bathe the idols of the Gods and Goddesses with Gangajal and pay homage to them.
• Purification of your home is also essential. Therefore, sprinkle Gangajal everywhere in your home, or you can also use Gomutra.
• You should cook food afresh after Lunar Eclipse 2020 ends.
• If you had already cooked before Sutak began, then add Tulsi leaves (basil) to it, for purification.

Lunar Eclipse From A Religious Perspective

Hindus consider the Moon as a God, and pray to him on Mondays, as it is considered to be the day devoted to the Moon. As per the ancient scriptures, Chandra Deva is the Lord of water, and Lord Shiva wears him in his hair. This is why it is believed that worshipping Lord Shiva also gets us the blessings of Lord Chandra since Bholenath is said to be the Lord of the Moon. The latter is also considered to be the significator of one’s mind.

Mythology suggests that Moon is the son of Sage Atri and his wife, Anusuya. He is also said to be the father of Mercury. Scriptures indicate that worshipping Chandra Deva during a Lunar eclipse helps eradicate the malefic effects of the Grahan dosha.

Astrological Facts About Lunar Eclipse 2020

Science has proven that the Lunar Eclipse is an astral event, occurring between three celestial bodies. However, astrology describes the Solar and Lunar Eclipses as a curse on the Moon and the Sun, by demons named Rahu-Ketu.

The mythological tale about this says that due to the Samundra Manthan, 14 gems came out of the Ksheer Sagar. When the Amrit, Nectar of Immortality, came out, Lord Vishnu in his Mohini avatar intervened and promised to distribute it equally amongst the Lords and the Demons. However, he gave the nectar to the Devas but only wine to the Asuras. Understanding his cunning plan, a demon named Swarbhanu sat with the Devtas to drink the Amrit. Surya Deva and Chandra Deva recognised him and pointed him out to Lord Vishnu, who immediately cut the demon’s head with his Sudarshan Chakra.

However, by then, Swarbhanu had already taken a drink of the nectar. Now, even though the Chakra cut him in two, both his head and body were alive separately. From then on, the head was called Rahu and the body, Ketu. Since they are immortal, they were given the place of shadow planets, in the celestial sphere. As Surya and Chandra were responsible for revealing their identity to Lord Vishnu, Rahu and Ketu take revenge on them by cursing the Sun and the Moon regularly. The Solar and Lunar eclipses are the result of theses curses.

Moon In Astrology

The planet Moon has a special significance in Vedic Astrology. At the time of a native's birth, astrologers see where the Moon is posited in the natal chart. This determines their Moon Sign, which is a piece of vital information. We can find out numerous things about a person’s nature, character, behaviour, and so on.

Moreover, the Moon is the significator of one’s mother and liquid. Even Science agrees that the high and low tides in water bodies occur due to the Moon's revolution around the Earth. This is why Lunar Eclipse is said to be very influential from an Astrological point of view.

Lunar Eclipse 2020: Mantras To Chant

ॐ क्षीरपुत्राय विद्महे अमृत तत्वाय धीमहि तन्नो चन्द्रः प्रचोदयात्

oṃ kṣīraputrāya vidmahe amṛta tatvāya dhīmahi tanno candraḥ pracodayāt

Chanting this mantra 108 or 1008 times fills one with positive energy, saves us from the malefic effects of the Grahan dosha, and offers us beneficial results. Additionally, one can also chant the Tantrik Mantra and Beej Mantra associated with the Moon, as this frees us from the harmful influence of the Lunar Eclipse.

Tantrik Mantra for Moon

Beej Mantra for Moon

Worshipping the Chandra Yantra and Lord Shiva also gets us the blessings of the Moon.

Lunar Eclipse 2020: Safeguards For Pregnant Women

Pregnant ladies are advised caution in general. However, astrology implores that they remain extra vigilant during the Lunar Eclipse. The eclipse is considered to be a curse of sorts. Scriptures say that if a pregnant lady does not remain more heedful at this time, then the adverse repercussions may affect her baby. Due to this, they are often advised to stay inside their homes throughout the duration of the eclipse. Embroidery, weaving, spinning, sewing, and other such tasks are prohibited as they are said to harm the baby’s body parts. Astrology is cautioning women to not cut or peel any vegetables either, during the Lunar Eclipse 2020. Use of knife, needle, scissors, or any sharp object will also cause a deficiency in their baby. We hope that you will follow all these safety measures during the moon eclipses this year for the safety of you and your baby.

With Hopes That You Like This Article On Solar Eclipse 2020, MyKundali Wishes You All A Happy And Safe New Year!