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 4,2025

Udupi: A 40-year-old NRI from Udupi has reportedly lost more than Rs 12.25 lakh in an online investment scam operated through Telegram.

According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, Leo Jerome Mendonsa, who has been working in Dubai for the past 15 years in computer accessories sales, maintains NRI accounts in Karkala and Nitte.

On November 12, 2025, Mendonsa was added to a Telegram group called Instaflow Earnings by unknown individuals. Users identified as Priya and Dipannita persuaded him to invest in “Revenue Tasks.” Initially, Mendonsa transferred Rs 1,100 multiple times and received the promised returns, encouraging him to continue.

On November 14, another user, Nishmitha Shetty, directed him to register on a website, digitvisionuoce.cc, and invest Rs 4 lakh in various shares. Over the next few days, he made multiple transfers totaling Rs 12,25,000, including Rs 50,000 via Google Pay, believing the scheme was legitimate.

After receiving the money, the alleged handlers stopped responding, and neither the invested amount nor the promised profits were returned.

The CEN police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigations are ongoing.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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