A total lunar eclipse is observed in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, April 4, 2015. The moon slipped fully into Earth’s shadow Saturday, starting a total lunar eclipse for nearly five minutes--what NASA says will be the shortest such eclipse of the century.
The total eclipse was unusually brief because the moon passed through the upper part of Earth's shadow. Longer eclipses occur when the moon passes through the middle of the shadow.
The next total lunar eclipse will occur in September.