A rare total lunar eclipse is turning the moon a deep red color early Tuesday (March 3), giving sky-watchers across the United States — including those in Southern California — a stunning celestial show before sunrise.

The event is commonly called a "blood moon" because Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, casting a massive shadow across the lunar surface. The red color happens because sunlight filters through Earth's thick atmosphere before reaching the moon, bathing it in a coppery, reddish-orange glow.

The eclipse runs from 12:37 a.m. to 6:25 a.m. Pacific time. Totality — the peak moment when Earth's shadow completely covers the moon — hits at 3:04 a.m. More than 3.3 billion people across the Americas, Asia, and Oceania can see the blood moon phase.

No telescope or special gear is needed — just step outside, look to the southwest, and look up. NASA does recommend binoculars or a telescope to enhance the view. Finding a dark spot away from bright city lights will make the experience even better.

During the eclipse, the moon will be positioned in the constellation Leo, sitting just beneath the lion's hind paws. NASA also notes that as Earth's shadow dims the moon, surrounding constellations may become easier to spot than they normally would during a full moon.

Observers on the west coast have the best seats in the house — the moon will be high enough in the sky to enjoy throughout the event. East coast viewers will need to find a clear western horizon, as the moon will be close to setting by the time totality begins. The horizon view carries its own reward: the moon appears larger than usual near the horizon due to an optical effect called the moon illusion.

For those who can't get outside or face cloudy skies, several free online streams are available. The Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles is streaming the eclipse live on its YouTube channel from 3:37 a.m. Eastern time, covering the full event from the penumbral phase through totality. The Virtual Telescope Project also begins its livestream at 3:30 a.m. Eastern time, featuring astrophotographers in Australia, the United States, and Canada. Time and Date's YouTube livestream launches at 4:30 a.m. Eastern time.

This blood moon is especially worth staying up for because it will be the last total lunar eclipse until New Year's Eve 2028.

Chuck Nowlin