(Fox News) — The longest total lunar eclipse this century was visible from much of the continental United States and Canada yesterday. The “blood moon” — as it was called — made a remarkable total apparition to start the new moon phase, set a new record as the longest total lunar eclipse this century, according to NASA, and became the first to take place in June for at least 1,400 years.
Highlights of the total eclipse yesterday included:
— The total moon just edged out the 381-day record set by the United States in 1948;
— The sun, Earth and moon lined up perfectly in such a way that the moon passed through Earth’s shadow from our perspective — thus the moon turned a bright red color;
— Spectators in the Pacific Northwest, Mexico, the Mediterranean Sea, eastern Europe, eastern Africa, western Asia and Australia were in prime viewing position to catch the entire celestial show, and watch the full duration of the eclipse;
— The photo by NASA meteorologist Bill Cooke shows the total eclipse at 9:44 p.m. EDT
The full eclipse lasted for four hours and 15 minutes, eclipsing all of the red parts of the full moon. The eclipse got its name from the color of the earth’s shadow. The color of the earth’s shadow depends on how far away the Earth is from the sun. The closer the sun is to Earth, the more bluer the shadow will appear.
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