article_snippet.sent: There was a total eclipse of The moon on Saturday - but it was an unusually short one.
article_snippet.sent: The lunar event - where Earth's shadow completely blocks the moon - lasted only five minutes, making it the shortest eclipse of the century, NASA said.
article_snippet.sent: On the west coast of America, a total eclipse of the moon — what astronomers call totality — began shortly before 5am PT .
article_snippet.sent: Unlike more lengthy eclipses, The moon only skimmed the upper part of Earth's shadow.
article_snippet.sent: Normally, The moon passes through the middle of Earth's shadow, making the eclipse lasts longer.
article_snippet.sent: It is the third of four consecutive lunar eclipses separated by six months - a tetrad - which is very rare .
article_snippet.sent: The moon is seen behind downtown high-rise buildings during the shortest total lunar eclipse of the century before dawn .
highlights_snippet.sent: It was the shortest lunar eclipse this century, with 'totality' only visible for five minutes .