A total lunar eclipse will turn the moon red across the Western Hemisphere from Thursday night through Friday morning. The best views will be from the Americas, while parts of Africa and Europe will also see the eclipse, AP News reports.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon, Earth, and sun line up in a line. The Earth casts a shadow that can wholly or partially cover the moon. The full moon is covered during a total solar eclipse and takes on a copper-red hue due to stray sunlight entering Earth's atmosphere.
NASA reports that lunar and solar eclipses occur four to seven times a year.
How to see the lunar eclipse
The so-called "blood moon" will be visible for about an hour, starting at 2:26 a.m. on Friday. You won't need glasses or any special equipment to view it.
"The eclipse may be more difficult to view in Europe and Africa because of the 'sunset' of the moon. This is an eclipse for North and South America," said Michael Faison, an astronomy expert at Yale University.
Another total lunar eclipse will occur on September 7, which will be visible in parts of Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe.
