North America will be treated to a total lunar eclipse early Tuesdaymorning. What makes this eclipse rare is that it coincides with the wintersolstice, a feat that has not occurred in over 350 years.Tuesday's eclipse will begin at 1:33 a.m. EST and will continue through 5:01a.m.
Totality, the time when Earth's shadow completely covers the moon, will startat 2:41 a.m. and lasts 72 minutes.
Roughly 3:15 a.m. will prove to be the best time to view the eclipse. NASAreports the eclipse will then be at its peak and the moon will display the mostbrilliant shade of coppery red.
Tuesday is a busy calendar day in the world of astronomy. Not only does thetotal lunar eclipse take place in the morning, but winter officially gets underway at 6:38 p.m. EST.
It is extremely rare for the two events to take place on the same date.
According to NASA, the last such occurrence took place on Dec. 21, 1638.
The next time the two events pair up will occur much sooner on Dec. 21, 2094.
Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski
