Buzz
The upcoming blood moon on July 27 will be a spectacle: it will shine brightly for 1 hour and 43 minutes, making it the longest total lunar eclipse in the 21st century, according to Space.com.
A blood moon occurs when the Moon moves into Earth's shadow, taking on a mysterious reddish hue. The duration of this effect depends on the Moon’s position relative to the Sun. For this lunar eclipse, the Moon will pass near the center of Earth's umbra—the darkest region of its shadow—prolonging the event. Additionally, the Moon's farther distance from Earth during this orbit means it will remain in the shadow longer.
The Moon will stay in the umbra for 1 hour and 43 minutes. It will also spend significant time in Earth's penumbra, the lighter shadow area. Overall, the eclipse will last 3 hours and 55 minutes in total.
Unfortunately, sky-gazers in North America won’t be able to catch this one: The blood moon will only be visible from Africa, the Middle East, southern Asia, and the Indian Ocean region, starting at 3:30 p.m. EDT and ending at 5:13 p.m. If you’re not in the right spot to witness this event, visit this space calendar to find out what celestial happenings are taking place in your area this summer.
