When and how to see the "Blood Moon" in San Diego

How it works: A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth and moon align so the moon passes into Earth's shadow, according to NASA.

• Total lunar eclipses occur when the moon passes into the dark shadow of the Earth.

Fun fact: Lunar eclipses are sometimes called "Blood Moons" because the moon will turn a reddish and copper hue, NASA said.

Zoom in: The moon appears red or orange because "any sunlight that's not blocked by our planet is filtered through a thick slice of Earth's atmosphere," NASA said.

• "It's as if all the world's sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the moon," NASA said.

When to watch: The initial phase of the eclipse, called the penumbral eclipse, begins at 8:57pm Thursday, NASA said in its timeline.

• Totality, when the moon will be tinted a coppery red, begins at 11:26pm Thursday and ends at 12:31am.

What we're watching: Unlike a solar eclipse where you need eclipse glasses to safely view it, special equipment isn't needed to observe a lunar eclipse.

• "Binoculars or a telescope will enhance the view," NASA said, noting a "dark environment away from bright lights makes for the best viewing conditions."