1The total lunar eclipse on July 27 will be the longest of the 21st century, lasting 1 hour and 43 minutes.
2During the eclipse, the moon will appear blood red and will be visible from Australia to Africa.
3This eclipse occurs when the moon is near apogee, making it a 'micromoon' and enhancing its duration in Earth's shadow.
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"The total lunar eclipse on July 27 will be the longest of the 21st century, lasting 1 hour and 43 minutes."
— Friday's total lunar eclipse will be longest blood moon visible this century, until 2123
The full moon will turn blood red on July 27 as the longest total lunar eclipse of the century takes place in the skies from Australia through Africa.
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 colour and is how it earned the nickname of a blood moon eclipse.
The red moon will pair well with Mars, which reaches opposition just before the eclipse and will also appear orange or red in colour.
Total Lunar Eclipse
Unlike a solar eclipse, no special equipment or glasses are needed to view a total lunar eclipse, although onlookers will require cloud-free weather.
Friday’s lunar eclipse will be particularly special as it is the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century.
The total phase of the eclipse will last for an impressive 1 hour and 43 minutes, while the entire eclipse, including the partial phases, will last for over 6 hours.
One reason why this eclipse is lasting so long is that it is occurring 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.
This is sometimes referred to as a ‘micromoon,’ and is the opposite of the well-known supermoon, or perigee (when the moon is at its closest to Earth).
Another factor that is playing a role in the eclipse’s duration is the path that the moon is taking through the Earth’s shadow. During Friday’s eclipse, the moon will be passing almost directly through the middle of the shadow, maximizing the time that moon spends in darkness.
The next time there is a total lunar eclipse this long will not be until June 9, 2123.
