Beaver Moon 2021: longest partial lunar eclipse for 580 years took place overnight

Partial eclipse lasts three hours, 28 minutes and 23 seconds – the longest since 1440

The Earth's shadow covers the full moon during a partial lunar eclipse on Friday, November 19, 2021, in Kansas City, Missouri. AP Photo

The Moon in shadow during a partial lunar eclipse seen from San Salvador, El Salvador. Reuters

The view of Story Bridge in Brisbane as the Earth's shadow covers the Moon during a partial lunar eclipse. EPA

The partially shaded red-coloured Moon over Palas de Rei, Galicia, in north-west Spain, on November 19, 2021. The partial lunar eclipse, the last of 2021, was visible from Spain, other parts of Europe, North and South America, Australia and Asia. EPA

The Earth's shadow covers the Moon during a partial lunar eclipse on Friday, November 19, 2021, in Yokohama, near Tokyo. AP Photo

The partial lunar eclipse over Tokyo Tower in Japan. AP Photo

The a partial lunar eclipse seen from Mexico City, Mexico. Reuters

The Moon, with its upper hemisphere partially eclipsed, over Monte Pedroso, in Santiago de Compostela, north-west Spain, early on the morning of November 19, 2021. EPA

Video journalists document a lunar eclipse from the observation deck on Roppongi Hills, as the Tokyo Tower in the distance is illuminated in honour of Major League Baseball All-Star Japanese player Shohei Ohtani's MVP season, in Tokyo on November 19, 2021. AFP

The Moon during a lunar eclipse behind the One World Trade Centre in New York early on November 19, 2021. AFP

Stargazers on the observation deck at Roppongi Hills in Tokyo on November 19, 2021 to watch the lunar eclipse. AFP

The longest partial lunar eclipse in 580 years took place overnight on Thursday, in concert with the eleventh full moon of 2021 – known by Native Americans as the Beaver Moon.

The partial lunar eclipse – caused by the Moon passing partially through Earth's shadow – lasted three hours, 28 minutes and 23 seconds, said US space agency Nasa.

During the eclipse, the Moon was 97 per cent covered by the Earth's shadow and was tinted red.

The Beaver Moon was in the sky for six hours and peaked at 8.57am GMT.

While the celestial phenomenon was visible in its entirety in the US, those in UK were deprived of seeing the full spectacle due to sunrise.

Nasa said it was the longest partial eclipse in more than 580 years.

“There hasn’t been a longer partial lunar eclipse since February 18, 1440 (three hours, 28 minutes, 46 seconds) and it will remain the longest partial lunar eclipse for 648 years until February 8, 2669 (three hours, 30 minutes, and 2 seconds)," it said.

Those who missed out will not have to wait for too long to see another lunar eclipse.

Nasa said there will be a longer total lunar eclipse – caused by the Moon passing through the centre of Earth's shadow – on November 8, 2022.