The total lunar eclipse
The total lunar eclipse of June 15 2011 will be visible over Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.
North America will be left out of Wednesday’s lunar spectacle, which will be visible from start to finish from eastern Africa, central Asia, the Middle East and western Australia — weather permitting.
The period when Earth’s shadow completely blocks the moon — known as totality — will last a whopping 1 hour and 40 minutes. The full moon normally glows from reflected sunlight. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon glides through the long shadow cast by the Earth and is blocked from the sunlight that illuminates it.
Since the moon will pass close to the center of the Earth’s shadow, the total eclipse phase will be longer than usual, said NASA eclipse experts.
The entire eclipse will last a little over 5 1/2 hours. Observers in Europe will miss the first part of the show because it will occur before the moon rises. Eastern Asia and eastern Australia won’t catch the final stages, which will happen after the moon sets. Portions of South America will be able see the moon entirely shrouded.
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to watch with the naked eye.
Don’t miss it!