The Longest Lunar Eclipse of the Century Can Be Seen in Connecticut This Week

If the skies cooperate in the wee hours of the morning this Friday, November 19, you may be able to see the moon turn into a bright red orb in the sky.

This century's longest lunar eclipse begins at 2:19 AM and will peak at 4:04 AM when the moon is high in the western sky. It will come to an end at 6:03 AM before the sun rises at 6:44.

At its peak around 4 AM, Earth will block 98% of the sun's light from reaching the moon's surface and turning it into a reddish hue. According to National Geographic, when the moon eclipses the sun, it casts two types of shadows on the moon. An enormous cloud, known as the penumbra, and a smaller, darker shade, known as the umbra.

A complete blood moon lunar eclipse happens when the sun, moon, and Earth are perfectly aligned. If the sky is clear, it is a wonder to behold. Even though this is technically a partial lunar eclipse, it will still block 98% of the sun's light from reaching the moon's surface. This will be the longest lunar eclipse in 580 years.

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Speaking from experience, finding the best place to shoot photos of this phenomenon is key. It should be a spot where there are no extraneous lights nearby and getting to a higher elevation if possible. Remember, the peek for the upcoming partial beaver moon lunar eclipse is this Friday, November 19 at 4 AM.