Century's longest lunar eclipse coming Friday

The 2018 total lunar eclipse will be the longest in the 21st century (2001 to 2100). The lunar eclipse is expected on Friday, July 27th.

On Friday, the full moon will rise and reveal itself coloured a deep or blood red. The total phase of the eclipse referred to as totality is expected to last more than 100 minutes.

The entire event though, which begins when the moon passes through the earths stratosphere will take six hours and 13 minutes, says Noah Petro a scientist for The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The shortest lunar eclipse of this century occurred on April 4, 2015. It lasted 4 minutes and 48 seconds.

The total lunar eclipse is described with the term a blood moon. This is when the moon looks darkened as it passes through the Earth’s shadow.

If the weather permits, Noah said, those is areas near the Middle East, south or eastern Africa, western and southeast Asia and India will be able to catch a glimpse of the celestial event.

Those living in Australia will see the lunar eclipse as the moon sets. Residents in eastern Brazil and western Europe can see it as the moon is rising. The eclipse however, won’t be visible from North America.

The Eastern Africa is expected to watch the eclipse for an entire 84 minutes. The next total lunar eclipse is expected to be in May 2021 although a partial lunar eclipse is expected next year July.