Total Lunar Eclipse on February 20

NASA reports on February 20^th - 21st people living in North and South America and parts of Africa and Europe will have a chance to witness a total lunar eclipse. The last total lunar eclipse occurred on August 27^th, 2007. According to NASA, a total lunar eclipse can only occur when the moon is full and passes fully behind the shadow of the Earth. Total lunar eclipses are known for being very striking and beautiful to watch. The light of the sun, refracted through Earth's atmosphere, is what causes the moon to appear in different shades from bright reds to deep shades of crimson.

The eclipse will begin at approximately 8:40 EST which will mark the beginning of the first stage, the Partial Eclipse. For the next three and a half hours the eclipse will progress through its stages, the moon will turn deeper shades of red as it passes into Earth's shadow, and then lighten again as it passes through to the other side.

Unlike a solar eclipse, which can severely damage your eyesight if looked at with the naked eye, a lunar eclipse is perfectly safe to look at. Provided you live on a part of the planet where the eclipse is visible, it can be seen clearly with the naked eye. Telescopes or even binoculars can help you get a clearer view. Photographers and amateur astronomer's would do best finding places with few trees. If you live in the city or even in just the crowded suburbs, it may be worth your time to drive to a less populated area where the sky is sure to be much clearer. While the previous two total lunar eclipses were only visible to a fraction of North America, experts expect that this latest event will be visible to the greater majority of the country.

Some tips for eclipse viewers

- The event begins at 8:40 pm EST / 5:40 pm PST and will take approximately 3 ½ hrs for the moon to completely pass through the earth's shadow.

- A telescope isn't required to view the eclipse but if you want a clearer view a standard pair of 7x35 or 7x50 binoculars is sufficient.

- NASA recommends that viewers wanting to photograph the event should get a telephoto lens or a small telescope to attach to their cameras. For more information on equipment, film, recommended exposures and additional tips, NASA suggests MrEclipse.

- Dress warmly; it's cold for some of you!