× Longest partial lunar eclipse in nearly 600 years: When to watch
By Tracy Connor, CNN
(CNN) — Don’t be fooled by the fact that a partial lunar eclipse is technically just a partial eclipse. Monday’s event will be the longest-lasting one in nearly 600 years.
This “blood moon” event — the last of four such natural phenomena this year — will last 4 hours and 47 minutes, NASA said. For the more casual fan, you can expect one red spot on the moon.
The alignment of the sun, Earth and moon allows for the moon to appear darker and blood-red during a lunar eclipse, CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said.
During a lunar eclipse, the sun, Earth and moon are lined up, causing the moon to briefly dim.
The last time the moon turned red was March 10, 1982. If you look back further, on December 3, 1949, you could see the last blue blood moon.
The first blood moon of the year, on January 30, will be a total lunar eclipse.
If you don’t have a good view of the moon, don’t fret. CNN is live streaming the event at 10 p.m. ET.
The weekend event, which will begin Saturday night, comes in conjunction with the full moon known as the supermoon. That’s because the moon will appear 14% bigger and 30% brighter than it does when it is full, according to NASA.
On January 1, the moon was at its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, making it a supermoon.
Another supermoon will appear on January 20, which will be a blue blood moon.
The last time three supermoons happened in a row was in 1866. The longest period in which three consecutive supermoons occurred occurred in 1866, when there were a total of 31 days in which the moon was supermoon.
NASA says on its website that Monday’s blood moon will be a total lunar eclipse, meaning that the moon will pass through the shadow of the Earth. While it is in the shadow, the moon will appear red.
Look at the moon between 7:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. for the first portion of the eclipse. The second portion will begin about 9:15 p.m. and last for more than an hour. The moon will set before the end of the event.
The next total lunar eclipse will occur on July 27.
The next blue blood moon will not happen until July 31, 2021.