Lunar Eclipse 2021: Longest partial eclipse of 21st century; when, where & how to watch

The longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century will be observed in a few weeks, as per the  National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Out of all the lunar eclipses that have occurred in a while, this one is expected to last the longest. NASA says that the lunar eclipse will last for over three hours. During the eclipse, a major part of the visible moon surface will appear to be red in colour from Earth, making it a spectacular view. 

The longest total eclipse of the 21st century occurred in 2018 when the Earth's shadow left the Moon in darkness for over one hour and 43 minutes. According to Holcomb University in Indiana, the partial lunar eclipse will not only be the longest in this century but for another 580 years. In a partial lunar eclipse, Earth's shadow does not cover the Moon in its entirety. Due to this, the lunar surface puts on a dramatic show of light which can be seen from the Earth. 

Details about the longest partial lunar eclipse of the 21st century

When to watch lunar eclipse 2021? 

The Lunar eclipse will be observable on November 18 and 19. For those wondering where to watch the lunar eclipse, it will be visible in North America, South America, Eastern Asia, Australia and the Pacific Region. In other words, it will be visible in all the regions where the moon is above the horizon during the eclipse. However, this does not include India as the region will experience daytime during the predicted time of the eclipse. Some parts of the eastern states in India might be able to watch the eclipse at its final stage. 

For observers on the US East Coast, the eclipse will begin around 02:18 AM local time and will reach its peak at 04:00 AM in the morning. On the west coast of the United States, the eclipse will be visible after 11:00 PM local time and will peak at 01:00 AM local time.  

How to watch lunar eclipse 2021?

Since the timings of the lunar eclipse are a bit odd, people might fall asleep before the lunar action begins and wake up long after it is done. For those who are in different time zones and cannot view the eclipse live, they can tune in to several live streams for viewing the lunar eclipse digitally. Those who reside in the countries where the eclipse is visible can view it with their naked eye. Lunar eclipses are completely safe to view without a filter or screen as the moon itself does not emit any light. It reflects the light of the sun.