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The Most Incredible Photos from Friday's Lunar Eclipse

The Most Incredible Photos from Friday's Lunar Eclipse

We couldn't see it in North America, but luckily there are incredible images

By Kate Hogan

July 27, 2018 04:29 PM

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Credit: JIM HOLLANDER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

The longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century occured on Friday, July 27, and was visible from much of the world. Prime viewing locations for the four-hour long event included Cairo, Egypt; Santorini, Greece; and Harare, Zimbabwe.

Unfortunately for Americans, one of the few parts of the globe that didn't see the spectacle was the U.S. But it was quite a sight for those in Eastern Europe, East Africa, the Middle East, Central or Southeast Asia and Western Australia.

Here, the moon rises above the Palestinian village of Umm Tuba on Friday.

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Credit: Ariel Schalit/AP/REX/Shutterstock

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the earth passes directly between the sun and moon, making the moon fall into shadow. This phenomenon also causes what’s commonly called a "blood moon" because of the reddish glow the moon appears to emit during sunset and sunrise.

It was quite visible in this photo taken from Tel Aviv, Israel.

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Credit: Ariel Schalit/AP/REX/Shutterstock

More from Tel Aviv; the lunar eclipse totality was one hour and 43 minutes, just shy of the longest possible totality: one hour and 47 minutes, according to Time.