During a lunar eclipse, the Earth aligns itself between the full moon and the sun, covering the lunar surface in shadow.
Photograph by: Karen Bleier, AFP/Getty Images
PARIS – Astronomers in parts of Europe, Africa, Central Asia and Australia were hoping for clear skies on Wednesday to enjoy a total lunar eclipse, the first of 2011 and the longest in nearly 11 years.
None of the eclipse will be visible from North America, though.
Google will run a live feed of the event.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when Earth casts its shadow over the moon.
The lunar face can sometimes turn reddish, coppery-brown or orange, tinged by light from the sun that refracts as it passes through our atmosphere.
The terrestrial shadow began about 1:30 p.m. Montreal time and is to end about 7 p.m., although “totality” – when the lunar face is completely covered – runs from 3:22 to 5:02 p.m., according to NASA’s veteran eclipse-watcher, Fred Espenak.
The 100-minute period of totality is the longest since July 2000.
“The entire event will be seen from the eastern half of Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and western Australia,” Espenak said.
“Observers throughout Europe will miss the early stages of the eclipse because they occur before moonrise. Fortunately, totality will be seen throughout the continent except for northern Scotland and northern Scandinavia.”
Eastern Asia, eastern Australia and New Zealand will miss the last stages of the eclipse because they occur after moonset.
Totality will be visible from eastern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.
The next total lunar eclipse is on Dec. 10.
There will be partial solar eclipses on July 1 and Nov. 25. The next total solar eclipse is to take place on Nov 13, 2012, in a track running across northern Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and southerly South America.
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