Last eclipse of the year Dec 21

NEW DELHI - A total lunar eclipse Dec 21 will be the last eclipse of 2010, a statement by the Planetary Society, India said Saturday. The eclipse will however not be visible in India.

According to N. Sri Raghunandan Kumar, general secretary of the Planetary Society, the eclipse will begin 10.58 a.m. and after passing through various phases, will end at 4.36 p.m.

The eclipse will be visible in the region covering Europe, West Africa, America, the Pacific Ocean, eastern Australia, the Philippines and eastern and northern Asia.

“The next eclipse which will be a partial solar eclipse will occur on Jan 4, 2011 and will be visible in a few northern states in India, while the rest of the country will not be able to see it. The next lunar eclipse which will be visible in India will occur June 15, 2011 and will be a total eclipse,” Kumar said.