Total Lunar Eclipse 16 July 2000

The total phase or totality lasts a remarkable 1 hour and 47 minutes. This is within seconds of the theoretical maximum duration. A total eclipse hasn't lasted this long since 1859 and it will not be equaled again for over a thousand years! Totality lasts so extrodinarily long because the Moon passes almost exactly through the center of Earth's umbral shadow. Such near perfect geometry is very rare.