Yesterday, the world witnessed its longest partial lunar eclipse since nearly 600 years as the moon appeared red to observers in North America and parts of South America. It lasted for three hours and 28 minutes.

Sky watchers around the world enjoyed the celestial show as the lunar disc was almost completely cast in shadow as it moved behind the earth. This was the second, and the last lunar eclipse of the year.

During a lunar eclipse, the moon turns red because the only sunlight reaching it passes through the earth’s atmosphere. The more dust or clouds deposited in the earth’s atmosphere during the eclipse, the redder the moon will appear.

Space scientists expect that the event will not be repeated until the far-off future of 2669. However, a long lunar eclipse as this is expected to occur on November 8, 2022.

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