Partial lunar eclipse will begin on Monday from 5:17 p. m., astrologers said.

Lunar eclipse occurs on the day of full moon. Earth rotates around Sun and Moon rotates around Earth and when these three planets come to a straight line where shadow of earth falls on moon, it is called lunar eclipse.

On Monday, it reaches to the middle at 5:49 p.m. and ends at 6:20 p.m.

There are three eclipses occurring this year and two of them occur within a period of two weeks. Solar eclipse occurred on 3rd October this year and partial lunar eclipse is occurring today. There will be another solar eclipse on 29th March 2006.

Official news agency, RSS, quoted chairman of Royal Nepal Panchanga Committee, Nayab Badagurujyu Dr. Madhav Bhattarai as saying that two eclipses within a period of two weeks are the rare phenomena.

Dr. Bhattarai stressed the need for engaging in religious activities at the time of eclipse. He said the eclipse occurring on Monday is beneficial for those born under zodiac signs of Taurus, Gemini, Libra and Capricorn.

Academician at the Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (RONAST), Rishi Shah, said that faint shadow of earth will fall on moon from 3:36 p.m. and such shadow will disappear around 8:00 p.m., according to the news report.