Celestial enthusiasts across Southern California will have a chance to watch the moon turn red during a total eclipse early Tuesday, but you\u2019ll have to be up before dawn to catch it. <\/p>\n
Between midnight and dawn Tuesday, the Earth will pass directly between the sun and the moon.<\/p>\n
The Earth will cast an enormous shadow across the moon\u2019s surface, turning it a deep reddish-orange, which is commonly referred to as a \u201cblood moon,\u201d according to NASA<\/a>.<\/p>\n The red color occurs because, during the total eclipse, the Earth is blocking most of the sun\u2019s light from reaching the moon, NASA said<\/a>. The light that does reach the moon\u2019s surface is filtered through a thick slice of the Earth\u2019s atmosphere. <\/p>\n This alignment can occur only during a full moon. About four to seven times a year, the Earth, moon and sun line up to create an eclipse. <\/p>\n There are two types of eclipses: lunar and solar. During a lunar eclipse, Earth\u2019s shadow obscures the moon; in a solar eclipse, the moon blocks the sun from view. <\/p>\n How can you watch the total lunar eclipse?<\/p>\n The total eclipse will occur from 12:37 a.m. to 6:25 a.m. Tuesday. Totality, or when the Earth completely covers the moon, is at 3:04 a.m.<\/p>\n No equipment is necessary to watch the color-changing display; just look up and to the southwest. <\/p>\n If you want to enhance your view, NASA recommends using a pair of binoculars or a telescope. <\/p>\n For an even more enhanced observing experience, find a dark environment away from bright lights to attend the total eclipse show. <\/p>\n