Question

When is the next total lunar eclipse?

By Christopher Stuart on Tue 21 December 2010

Answer

There will be two total lunar eclipses in 2011: one on 15 June and one on 10 December. The summer eclipse will be visible from Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. The winter one will also be clearly visible from North America. This eclipse will last for just one hour.

Today's lunar eclipse (21 December 2010) is the first time a lunar eclipse has coincided with the shortest day of the year for nearly 400 years. If you managed to catch it, you may also have seen a rare event - the appearance of both the sun and the eclipsed moon on the horizon at the same time. This is known as a selenehelion.

By Vikki Jones