On September 28, 2015, the maximum eclipse of the moon takes place in Glastonbury (England), where it will be visible for the entire duration. Matt Cardy/Getty Images
On November 19, a near-total lunar Eclipse will be visible in North America.
NASA predicts that it will be the longest partial lunar eclipse of this century at 3 hours and 28 mins.
Here's how you can see this rare event when 97% of the moon will appear red.
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Two weeks is the longest lunar eclipse this century.
The eclipse will occur in the early hours on November 19th, when Earth will pass between sun and moon casting a shadow above the former. Just after 4 a.m., the eclipse will peak. ET: The moon will turn a reddish color due to 97% of its full moon being hidden from the sun's rays.
NASA says the partial lunar eclipse will last for 3 hours, 28 mins, and 23 seconds longer between 2001 and 2100.
Here are the details on how and when you can catch this rare celestial event.
North American residents can view the entire spectacle.
Lunar eclipses can only be seen in areas where the moon is above or below the horizon.
Sky watchers in North America will have the best seats for the eclipse. The full event can be viewed by all 50 states of the USA, Canada and Mexico.
A telescope or binoculars are not necessary. Simply go outside to look at the sky anytime between 2:19 AM ET and 5:47 AM ET.
You can also watch the live stream here if you don’t want to brave the cold morning air.
People living in South America and Western Europe will be able to see the majority of the eclipse. However, the moon will rise before the event ends. The earlier portion of the eclipse will be missed by people living in Oceania and western Asia, since the moon has not yet risen. The spectacle will not be seen by those who live in Africa or the Middle East.
A map showing the locations where partial lunar eclipses will be visible on November 19th. NASA
Don't worry if you don't see the eclipse. NASA predicts that there will be another 179 eclipses over the next eight decades. This average is two per year. The next eclipse is expected to occur on May 16, 2022.
How and why a lunar eclipse turns the moon red
The moon's face is usually illuminated by the sunlight reflecting off its surface. However, during a lunar eclipse, the moon and sun align briefly so that the sun cannot reach the moon.
Diagram of the Earth, moon and sun during total lunar eclipse. Shayanne Gal/Business Insider
Total lunar eclipses occur when the entire moon is covered by the Earth's shadow cone-shaped, also known as the umbra. The lunar surface appears bloody during a total or near-total eclipse such as this month's.
That light show is due to oxygen and nitrogen particles in Earth’s atmosphere. Both are better at scattering shorter wavelengths of light like blue and violet. Colors with longer wavelengths, such as red, orange, and yellow, linger. These reddish hues dominate what you see when the moon is in Earth's shadow.
