How long will the lunar eclipse on Dec 20th 2010 last?

Answer 1

If skies are clear, observers throughout North America will see the total lunar eclipse on December 20-21, 2010.

The partial phase begins at 1:32 AM EST December 21 (10:32 PM PST on the 20th). During the next 68 minutes,
earth's shadow will move across the visible lunar surface.

Totality begins at 2:40 AM EST (11:40 PM PST), and lasts 73 minutes. It ends at 3:54 AM EST (12:54 AM PST),
and the partial phase will then unwind in reverse for the next 68 minutes.

The eclipse occurs less than 24 hours before the Winter Solstice, which places the moon just about as far north in the sky as it can ever get, well above Orion, and between Taurus and Gemini.

Answer 2

From the NASA Eclipse Web Page:

The last lunar eclipse of 2010 is especially well placed for observers throughout North America.

The Moon's orbital trajectory takes it through the northern half of Earth's umbral shadow. Although the eclipse is not central, the total phase still lasts 72 minutes. The Moon's path through Earth's shadows as well as a map illustrating worldwide visibility of the event are shown in Figure 4. The timings of the major eclipse phases are listed below.

Penumbral Eclipse Begins: 05:29:17 UT

Partial Eclipse Begins: 06:32:37 UT

Total Eclipse Begins: 07:40:47 UT

Greatest Eclipse: 08:16:57 UT

Total Eclipse Ends: 08:53:08 UT

Partial Eclipse Ends: 10:01:20 UT

Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 11:04:31 UT

You are in Massachusetts, which is in the Eastern time zone, which is "-5", so subtract five hours from the times above.

So for you, the total eclipse starts at 2:40 AM, and ends at 3:53 AM.

Answer 3

Depending on your time zone, the total lunar eclipse will begin either every early the morning on Tuesday, December 21, or very late the evening of Monday, December 20.

In the table below, All times are in UCT, "Coordinated Universal Time" which used to be called Greenwich Mean Time. For the Eastern time zone, subtract 5 hours; for Central time, things happen 6 hours earlier. Mountain Time is 7 hours earlier, and subtract 8 hours for Pacific time.

Penumbral Eclipse Begins: ____05:29:17 UT

Partial Eclipse Begins: _______06:32:37 UT

Total Eclipse Begins: ________07:40:47 UT

Greatest Eclipse: ___________08:16:57 UT

Total Eclipse Ends: _________08:53:08 UT

Partial Eclipse Ends: ________10:01:20 UT

Penumbral Eclipse Ends: _____11:04:31 UT