Total Lunar Eclipse ‘Blood Moon’ Arrives Tuesday | Room

The moon will perform a disappearing act on Tuesday, and those who miss it will have to wait three years for another chance to see something like this again.

A total lunar eclipse will be visible across North America before dawn Tuesday, giving those farther west the best view. In Asia, Australia and the rest of the Pacific, it will be visible after sunset.

Uranus will be visible only a finger’s width above the moon at that time and resembles a bright star.

The total eclipse lasts nearly 90 minutes — from 5:16 a.m. to 6:41 a.m. ET — as Earth passes directly between the moon and the sun.

The eclipse will appear reddish-orange by the light of Earth’s sunsets and sunrises, creating what’s called a blood moon. According to NASA scientists, the moon will be 242,740 miles (390,553 km) from Earth.

Observers can improve their vision with binoculars and telescopes, and they should hope for clear skies.

While those in South America will be able to see some of the lunar eclipse on Tuesday if the weather cooperates, unfortunately Africa, the Middle East and most of Europe won’t get a chance to see it. They’ll have to wait until the next one in 2025, or settle for numerous partial lunar eclipses until then.

Tuesday is the second total lunar eclipse this year, after one in may.

The Associated Press contributed coverage