Why did the blood moon eclipse appear unusually long?

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The Blood Moon Eclipse Appeared Unusually Long Due to Orbital Mechanics

The blood moon eclipse experienced this century was exceptionally long due to a combination of the Moon's orbital position and its path through Earth's shadow. Specifically, the Moon was at its farthest point from Earth in its orbit, which made its apparent movement across the sky slower from our perspective. This slower motion meant the Moon spent a greater duration within Earth's shadow.
Near-Central Passage Through Earth's Umbra

A significant factor contributing to the eclipse's extended duration was the Moon's trajectory. It passed through the umbra, which is the darkest and most central part of Earth's shadow, in a near-central manner. This precise alignment ensured a prolonged period where direct sunlight was fully obscured from the Moon.
Moon at Apogee Slowed Apparent Movement

The Moon's orbital path is not a perfect circle, and it reaches its farthest point from Earth, known as apogee, at approximately 405,500 kilometres. During this particular eclipse, the Moon was at its apogee. When celestial bodies are farther away, their apparent speed across the sky diminishes from an observer's viewpoint, thus prolonging phenomena like eclipses.
Totality Lasted Over an Hour

The period of complete eclipse, referred to as "totality," when the Moon appears darkest, lasted for a significant duration. This phase extended from 1930 to 2113 GMT, which equated to over an hour and a half of full eclipse. This lengthy totality is a direct consequence of the celestial mechanics described, allowing observers a more extended view of the phenomenon.

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Why did the blood moon eclipse appear unusually long?

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