After 152 years, mankind witnesses Super Blue Blood Moon

Agencies
January 31, 2018

A rare spectacle in the sky is appearing after 152 years on January 31. The Super Blue Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse, a rare coincidence of three different phases of the moon will be visible in most parts of Asia, North America and Australia.

What is a Lunar Eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, the moon and the earth align, with the moon appearing in the shadow of the earth. Every year, at least two lunar eclipses occur. But they aren't visible in all parts of the world at the same time.

All lunar eclipses fall during the full moon (every month, we have a full moon), but not all full moons are eclipses. Eclipses occur due to a 5-degree tilt in the orbit of the moon around the earth with respect to the orbit of the earth around the sun. 

Who cares about something that recurs every month? 

So the lining up of these three celestial bodies happens when the moon reaches any of the two nodes in the space. If it is a full moon day, it will be a lunar eclipse and if it is a dark moon, it will be a solar eclipse. 

Blue moon

A blue moon is nothing but the second full moon in the same calendar month.

Supermoon

The orbit of the moon is not a perfect round. It is ellipse-shaped and earth is in one of its' centres. Therefore the distance between earth and moon keeps changing. The closest distance is called perigee and longest is called apogee. Therefore we feel the moon is 14% bigger and 30 brighter during a full moon at perigee (moon’s shape never changes, it is just relative feeling for us) which we call a supermoon. 

The blood moon/red moon or copper moon

On 31st January, some rays from the sun will surpass earth’s atmosphere and reach the moon which would eventually be reflected back to the earth. The violet, blue and green rays in the sunlight which has lesser wavelength cannot complete this long journey. But the red and orange will successfully reach our eyes and we feel the moon has become reddish/’orangish’. 

When is it visible?

Though scientifically, the eclipse starts at 4.21 pm, we will not be able to see any difference in the moon. It enters the dark shadow of the earth (the penumbra) by 6.21 pm and the total eclipse begins which will be visible to us. It means the eclipse would be underway when the moon rises. The maximum eclipse is at 7.00 pm and the total eclipse will continue until 7.37 pm. The partial eclipse will be over by 9.38 pm.

What equipment is needed to watch it?

This is not a solar eclipse and hence we need no equipment to watch it. Get out of your home/office to a high-rise building or an open space at 6.30 pm and make yourself comfortable for the next one hour.

There is nothing harmful- no rays, no extra-terrestrial activities or reactions during this eclipse. Anyone can look at the moon with naked eyes. It is a great idea to get a binocular or telescope to view it closely. 

Don't pay any heed to people spreading fake messages about ‘harmful reactions’ of getting out of your home during the eclipse. If you don’t watch, you’ll miss it. Nothing else. 

In a move to popularise the event and spread scientific temper, the Government of Karnataka has asked the schools to encourage students to watch the eclipse.

Bengaluru celebrates

The Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium will host a public event where telescopes will be set up to give the public a closer view of the event.

Breakthrough Science Society Karnataka has planned for public viewing events across Karnataka. They have arranged for telescopes with assistance from their volunteers.

Here is a list of the places where you can catch it.

1) Government Model Primary School, Attiguppe Bus Stand, Bengaluru
2) Government Model School, 9th Main, Hosahalli, Vijayanagar, Bengaluru
3) Donkana Field, Shankarnag Circle, Hanumantha Nagar, Bengaluru
4) HMT grounds, RT Nagar, Bengaluru
5) New Oxford Public School, Rajajinagar, Bhashyam Circle, Bengaluru
6) KEB Quarters, Rajajinagar 3rd Block, Bengaluru
7) JP Park, Mathikere, Bengaluru
8) SBI Officers' Association Public School, SBI Colony, Basaveshwara Nagar, Bengaluru
9) Priyadarshini Vidya Kendra School Grounds, 6th Main, Kengeri Satellite Town, Bengaluru
10) High School Grounds, Davanagere
11) Vidya Nidhi PU College Grounds, Raichur
12) Opposite Central Bus Stand, Vijayapura
13) SBR School Grounds, Kalaburagi
14) Anjuman School, Dharwad
15) Sri Vasavi Vidya Samsthe, Chitradurga
16) Vidya Vilas Vidya Kendra, Chitradurga
17) Vishwamanava Vasathi Shale, Chitradurga
18) Sri. Nijalingappa Vidya Samsthe, Hosadurga
19) Taralabalu Vidya Samsthe, Mysuru
20) Sri Shakti Krupa, 2nd Cross, KEB Road, RV Colony, Tumkur.

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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News Network
December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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News Network
December 6,2025

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With IndiGo flight disruptions impacting thousands of passengers, the airline on Saturday said that it will offer full waiver on all cancellations/reschedule requests for travel bookings between December 5, 2025 and December 15, 2025.

Earlier in the day, the civil aviation ministry had directed the airline to complete the ticket refund process for the cancelled flights by Sunday evening, as well as ensure baggage separated from the travellers are delivered in the next two days.

In a post on X, titled 'No questions asked', IndiGo wrote, "In response to recent events, all refunds for your cancellations will be processed automatically to your original mode of payment."

"We are deeply sorry for the hardships caused," it further added.

Several passengers, however, complained of not getting full refund as promised by the airline.

Netizens have shared screenchots of getting charged for airline cancellation fee and convenience fee.

"Please tell me why u have did this airline cancellation charges when u say full amount will be refunded (sic)," a user wrote sharing a screenshot of the refund page.

"Well, but you have still debited the convenience charges," wrote another.

Passengers have also raised concerns about the "cancel" option being disabled on the IndiGo app. "First enable the 'Cancel' button on your App & offer full refund on tickets cancelled by customers between the said dates," wrote a user.

A day after the country's largest airline, IndiGo, cancelled more than 1,000 flights and caused disruptions for the fifth day on Saturday, the ministry said that any delay or non-compliance in refund processing will invite immediate regulatory action.

The refund process for all cancelled or disrupted flights must be completed by 8 pm on Sunday, the ministry said in a statement.

"Airlines have also been instructed not to levy any rescheduling charges for passengers whose travel plans were affected by cancellations," it said.

On Saturday, more than 400 flights were cancelled at various airports.

IndiGo has also been instructed to set up dedicated passenger support and refund facilitation cells.

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