Photos: Lunar Eclipse June 15: Most beautiful and longest in a decade (PHOTOS)
Jun 16, 2011 12:56 AM EDT
The total lunar eclipse that took place on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, is the most beautiful total and the longest lunar eclipse the people of this world have seen in a decade.
The total lunar eclipse was visible for over 100 minutes in different parts of Asia, Europe and Africa. The partial eclipse lasted for three hours and 40 minutes.
People in Australia, Singapore, India were among the first to see the beautiful lunar eclipse. The people in the UK, different countries in Europe and Africa also witnessed the rare moment.
However, people in North America failed to see the lunar eclipse live, with their own eyes as it ended shortly before 7 p.m. EST.
According to astronomers, only 3 lunar eclipses in the past decade have rivaled the beauty and duration of what people witnessed on Wednesday.
On July 16, 2000, a lunar eclipse lasted 107 minutes.
Though the people in the U.S. did not see the event with their own eyes, Google came to their rescue with a beautiful Google Doodle.
The Google Doodle showed the progress of the lunar eclipse live, being updated every 2 minutes.
Google had also teamed up with skywatcher website Slooh.com to offer a live views of the eclipse with the use of space cameras installed strategically in South Africa, Dubai and Cyprus.
Google said the idea of the Doodle and the live stream came "naturally."
"We're always fascinated by the unique wonders of space and the world - what can we say, it's the geek in us," the company wrote on its blog. "We were both excited and disappointed that this rare occasion wouldn't be visible from our Mountain View campus like last year's eclipse."
A lunar eclipse is different from a solar eclipse. A solar eclipse darkens the moon but a lunar eclipse gives the moon an orange or reddish hue because the sun rays are able to pass through the Earth's atmosphere.
Enjoy the beautiful photos of the full lunar eclipse below:
Combination photo shows the moon as it undergoes a total lunar eclipse as seen from Jerusalem June 15, 2011.
Source: Reuters
A combination photo shows the gradual total lunar eclipse as seen over the skies of Belgrade June 15, 2011.
Source: Reuters
A partial lunar eclipse is seen over the village of Zejtun, lit up for its parish church feast of Saint Catherine, in the south of Malta June 15, 2011.
Source: Reuters / Darrin Zammit Lupi
The moon is seen during a total lunar eclipse from Cairo June 15, 2011. During the eclipse, the earth is lined up directly between the sun and the moon, casting the earth's shadow over the moon.
Source: Reuters / Amr Abdallah Dalsh
The Moon is seen in Dubai during a lunar eclipse, marking the beginning of the third week of the Islamic month of Rajab, June 15, 2011.
Source: Reuters / Jumana El Heloueh
A shadow falls on the moon during a lunar eclipse as seen from Amman
Source: Reuters
A full lunar eclipse is seen from the village of Marsascala in the south of Malta June 15, 2011.
Source: REUTERS / Darrin Zammit Lupi
Google Doodle on full lunar eclipse
Source: Google
