Residents look at the moon during a partial lunar eclipse under the Roman pillars of the Temple of Hercules in Amman June 15, 2011. REUTERS/Ali Jarekji A partial lunar eclipse is seen over the village of Zejtun, lit up for its parish church feast of Saint Catherine, in the south of Malta June 15, 2011. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit LupiThe moon is seen behind the wall of Damascus gate in Jerusalem Old City during a total lunar eclipse June 15, 2011. The image projected onto the wall is part of the Jerusalem Festival of Lights. REUTERS/Nir EliasA partial lunar eclipse is seen over the skies of Belgrade June 15, 2011. REUTERS/Marko DjuricaA partially eclipsed moon rises on the sky over Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, June 15, 2011. The total lunar eclipse was visible throughout most parts of Europe on Wednesday evening. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) A lunar eclipse is seen over the Atomium in Brussels, early Thursday, June 16, 2011. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert).The earth casts its shadow over the moon during a total lunar eclipse seen from behind the Pantheon of Freedom sculpture, featuring a torch, at Three Powers Square in downtown Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday June 15, 2011. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)Residents look at the moon during a partial lunar eclipse under the Roman pillars of the Temple of Hercules in Amman June 15, 2011. REUTERS/Ali Jarekji The moon is seen behind an illuminated cross of Ayios Nickolaos church during a lunar eclipse over Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, June 15, 2011. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias).The moon is seen behind the wall of Damascus gate in Jerusalem old city during a total lunar eclipse June 15, 2011. REUTERS/Nir EliasThe Earth completely casts its shadow over the moon in a total lunar eclipse as seen in Manila, Philippines before dawn Thursday June 16, 2011. The total lunar eclipse was also visible in most parts of Asia. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez).The moon turns red during a total lunar eclipse, as seen from Skopje, Macedonia, on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski).
AP News said that Asian and African night owls were treated to a lunar eclipse, and ash in the atmosphere from a Chilean volcano turned it blood red for some viewers.
Astronomical calculations confirm that it would be one of the two longest total lunar eclipses of the century.
A total of 85 total lunar eclipses, according to the scientists, will be taking place this century of which the longest total lunar eclipse will occur on July 27, 2018.