Better catch the moon鈥檚 disappearing act Tuesday 鈥� there won鈥檛 be another like it for three years.
The total lunar eclipse will be visible throughout North America in the predawn hours 鈥� the farther west, the better 鈥� and across Asia, Australia and the rest of the Pacific after sunset. As an extra treat, Uranus will be visible just a finger鈥檚 width above the moon, resembling a bright star.
Totality will last nearly 1 1/2 hours 鈥� from 5:16 a.m. to 6:41 a.m. EST 鈥� as Earth passes directly between the moon and sun.
Known as a blood moon, it will appear a reddish-orange from the light of Earth鈥檚 sunsets and sunrises. At the peak of the eclipse, the moon will be 242740 miles (390,653 kilometers) away, according to NASA scientists. Binoculars and telescopes will enhance viewing, provided the skies are clear.
South America will get a glimpse of Tuesday鈥檚 lunar eclipse, weather permitting. Striking out altogether, Africa, the Middle East and most of Europe will have to wait until 2025.
Among those providing a livestream of Tuesday鈥檚 lunar extravaganza: Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles and the Italian-based Virtual Telescope Project.
It鈥檚 the second total lunar eclipse this year; the first was in May. The next one won鈥檛 be until 2025. Plenty of partial lunar eclipses will be available in the meantime.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute鈥檚 Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Marcia Dunn, The Associated Press
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