Posted August 27, 2007, 12:43 PM.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the earth's shadow crosses and darkens a full moon.

The total lunar eclipse will start at 2:52 am, and will last for a full hour and a half. During that time, the moon's color could be anything from a dull and dusky red-brown to a reddish or even orange glow, depending on how much dust, pollution and mist is in the atmosphere.

For the wide-awake, a partial eclipse will start at 1:51 a.m. Tuesday and become total starting at 2:52 a.m. By 4:22 a.m., the total phase will be over, but then as the moon begins to emerge from Earth's shadow, another partial phase will begin as a retrograde optical effect will take place. The eclipse will end at 5:24 a.m., just as the sky begins to lighten for dawn.

According to NASA, all of North America should be able to see portions of the lunar eclipse. From Southern California, we should be able to view the eclipse in its entirety.

For more information, see NASA's eclipse page.

Thanks to Harold Roosa for contributing this report.