LOS ANGELES: The year’s first total eclipse of the moon will occur next week, and it will be an unusually long one.

If you’re in eastern Africa, central Asia, the Middle East or western Australia, you should be able to view the entire lunar spectacle, if the weather cooperates.

But the eclipse Wednesday won’t be visible from the United States and Canada.

The time when Earth’s shadow completely blocks the moon will last a whopping 1 hour and 40 minutes.

The last time the moon was fully covered for this long was in July 2000, when it occurred for 1 hour and 47 minutes.