Lunar Eclipse: Blood Moon Wows Early Risers Across Australia
A rare lunar eclipse dazzled Aussies on Saturday morning.
Skygazers across the globe had a treat on Saturday morning with the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century.
The total eclipse, visible from a host of locations worldwide, lasted one hour, 42 minutes and 57 seconds, according to NASA.
A partial eclipse preceded and followed it, meaning the Moon spent a total of three hours and 54 minutes in the Earth's umbral shadow.
It was visible at different times in Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America when the Sun, Earth and Moon lined up perfectly.
In Australia, the moon started turning red about 4:30am AEST this morning and the total eclipse started at about 5:30am.
Sydney Observatory's Andrew Jacob said hundreds of people had paid to watch the event from the observatory.
“Our event is sold out,” he told the ABC.
“We have about a couple of hundred people that are booked in to come and watch it with us.”
A total lunar eclipse happens when the Earth's shadow shifts across the Moon, blocking out light from the Sun.
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