Skies clear overnight for longest lunar eclipse in nearly 600 years

You’ll have to wake up early, or stay up late.

Credit: NASA

Credit: NASA

The partial lunar eclipse overnight is expected to last three hours, 28 minutes and 23 seconds ― longer than any other between 2001 and 2100, NASA predicted.

In fact, NASA says it could be the longest for nearly 600 years, 580 to be exact.

The partial lunar eclipse — when the moon slips behind Earth’s shadow — will reach its peak at 4:02 a.m. Friday. It starts at 2:18 a.m. and ends at 5:47 a.m. for the East Coast, according to NASA.

“Weather permitting, the eclipse will be visible from any location where the moon appears above the horizon during the eclipse,” NASA said.

And it appears the weather is permitting. Skies will go from mostly cloudy to clear. But skygazers will want to bundle up. It will be below freezing with a low temperature dropping to around 26 degrees.

A huge swath of the globe: North and South America, Australia and parts of Europe and Asia should be able to see the partial eclipse.

It is the second lunar eclipse of the year. The other was a total lunar eclipse in May.

There will be two total lunar eclipses in 2022, on May 15 and Nov. 8.

There will be a total solar eclipse on Dec. 4, but only those in Antarctica will be able to see it.

However, a partial solar eclipse will be visible in parts of southern Africa and the southeasternmost parts of Australia and Tasmania according to EarthSky.

About the Author