Watch CBS News

Total Lunar Eclipse Wednesday, Not Visible In U.S.

LOS ANGELES (CBS4) -- The year's first total eclipse of the moon will occur Wednesday, and it will be an unusually long one.

But the eclipse won't be visible from the United States and Canada.

If you're in eastern Africa, central Asia, the Middle East or western Australia, you should be able to view the entire lunar spectacle, if the weather cooperates.

The time when Earth's shadow completely blocks the moon will last a whopping 1 hour and 40 minutes.

The last time the moon was fully covered for this long was in July 2000, when it occurred for 1 hour and 47 minutes.

It's the first lunar eclipse of 2011 and one of two total lunar eclipses this year.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.