Photos: The longest lunar eclipse of the century captured around the world
Skywatchers from around the globe observed the longest total lunar eclipse of the century as the moon turned blood red on Friday night.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the Earth’s innermost shadow. When this happens, the moon turns rusty orange or deep red in color and is how it earned the nickname of a blood moon eclipse.
The total phase of the eclipse lasted for one hour and 43 minutes, while the entire eclipse, including the partial phases, lasted for over six hours.
One reason why this eclipse is lasted so long is because it occurred when the moon is near apogee, or the point in its orbit when it is farthest away from the Earth, making it appear smaller than normal.
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While the eclipse was not visible in North America and those in South America only caught a glimpse of it at moonrise, residents will want to mark their calendars for the next total lunar eclipse, which falls on Jan. 21, 2019.
Unlike this week’s eclipse, the entirety of January’s blood moon eclipse will be visible across both continents. Some areas in Europe and Africa will also be able to view this eclipse, weather permitting.
There will also be a partial lunar eclipse on July 16, 2019, the 50th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 11, the mission that sent the first humans to the moon.
A blood moon rises over Gaza City, Friday, July 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
An airplane passes the blood moon immediately after the total lunar eclipse in Erfurt, Germany, Friday, July 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
A blood moon rises next to the statue of Nike, the goddess of victory, during a complete lunar eclipse in Warsaw, Poland, Friday, July 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)
A full moon rises over the Victoria Harbour during a complete lunar eclipse, in Hong Kong, Saturday, July 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
A blood moon rises at Arpoador beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, July 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
A blood moon rises over Marseille, southern France, Friday, July 27, 2018. Curiosity and awe have greeted a complete lunar eclipse, the longest one of this century. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)
A blood moon rises over a minaret in Istanbul, late Friday, July 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
This combination of eight photos shows the different stages of the moon, from top left to bottom right, during a complete lunar eclipse, as seen from Hyderabad, India, Saturday, July 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
A blood moon rises over Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, India, early Saturday, July 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
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