NEW DELHI, July 12 (Xinhua) -- A partial eclipse of the moon will be visible in India on July 17, an official statement by the Ministry of Earth Science said Friday.

The partial lunar eclipse will begin from 1:31 a.m. (Indian Standard Time), it said.

"The moon will be gradually covered by the Earth's shadow and the maximum partial eclipse will occur at 3:01 when about a little more than half portion of the moon will be covered by the Earth's shadow. The partial eclipse will end at 4:30," it added.

A partial lunar eclipse happens when only part of Earth's shadow covers the moon.