Asia, Australia, and other areas of the Pacific had the best visibility. European countries only saw a partial eclipse of a rising moon, while northwestern North America saw a partial eclipse of a setting moon. Due to air pollution around major metropolitan cities, the eclipsed moon had a reddish appearance, while, in more rural, less-populated areas, the eclipse was more clear.
Chinese stargazers will have their best view of a total lunar eclipse in 10 years on Saturday if weather permits, the Zijinshan Astronomical Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said Thursday.
Wang Sichao, a research fellow with the observatory, said during the total eclipse, the full moon will not completely disappear from the Earth's shadow, but will take on a brilliant bronze color.
He said the eclipse will be the best one seen in China since the last one occurred on Jan. 10, 2001.
"Theoretically, viewers can observe the eclipse from nearly everywhere in the country on Saturday," said the astronomer.
He said the eclipse, the second this year, will last for 51 minutes. It will start at 8:45 p.m. and reach its climax at 10:06 p.m.
Wang said Chinese viewers will have to wait until Oct. 8, 2014 to see the next total lunar eclipse.
这次月全食是继2001年1月10日之后，我国观测条件最好的一次月全食。一次月全食有初亏、食既、生光、复圆等几个重要时间点。本次月全食的初亏为北京时间12月10日20时45分，食既为10日22时06分，生光时刻为10日22时57分，复圆则发生在11日0时17分。其中，食既到生光为全食阶段，这意味着，对于观测者而言最精彩的全食时间有51分钟。
