The first total lunar eclipse for this year begins at 8:47 am UTC (2:17 pm IST) on 26th May, lasting for approximately 5 hours and 2 mins. The full eclipse will appear at 11:11 am UTC (4:41 pm IST), will be maximum at 11:18 am UTC (4:48 pm IST) and will continue to be at its total state until 11:25 am UTC (4:55 pm IST). The complete lunar event will be over at 01:49 pm UTC (7:19 am IST). The axis of Rahu-Ketu falls in the sign of Scorpio-Taurus. The most important planets under consideration during an eclipse are the Sun, Moon, Rahu and Ketu (North and South nodes otherwise known as the Dragon's Head and Tail in Vedic literature). This lunar eclipse occurs on Purnima Tithi of Vaishakha, Shukla Paksha, according to the Vedic calendar. Coincidently this day also falls on Buddha Purnima.