Different Stages in Lunar Eclipse There are 7 stages during the occurrence of an eclipse (see Figure 1):
 1. "Moon enters penumbra" - the first contact of the Moon and the Earth's penumbra
2. "Moon enters umbra" - when the Moon enters the Earth's umbra, this is the start of partial lunar eclipse
3. "Total eclipse begins" - when the Moon touches the umbra internally, at this time, the Moon is totally immersed in the umbra and total eclipse starts
4. "Middle of eclipse" - occurs when the centre of the Moon is closest to the centre of the Earth's umbra
5. "Total eclipse ends" - when the Moon touches the umbra internally again, this signifies the end of total eclipse
6. "Moon leaves umbra" - the time when the Moon touches the umbra externally, this is the end of partial lunar eclipse
7. "Moon leaves penumbra" - when the Moon leaves the penumbra During a partial eclipse, the "Total eclipse begins" and "Total eclipse ends" would not occur. In a penumbral eclipse, there would only be "Moon enters penumbra", "Middle of eclipse" and "Moon leaves penumbra".