Blood Moon to light up skies early Tuesday

When to watch: In Pacific Time, the show begins Tuesday at 1:50am, when the Earth's shadow starts visibly taking a "bite" out of the Moon, per NASA.

• 3:04am: Totality begins. The entire Moon turns red for about an hour.
• 4:03am: Totality ends.
• 5:17am: The noticeable part of the eclipse wraps up.

Where: Most of North America will be able to see the total eclipse, weather permitting, with the best viewing conditions out West.

• In parts of the Eastern U.S., the Moon will sit low near the horizon during totality as dawn begins to brighten the sky.

What's happening: A Blood Moon is the informal name for a total lunar eclipse, when the full Moon slips completely into Earth's darkest shadow. Sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere bends red light onto the lunar surface, giving it a deep, coppery glow.

State of play: No telescope is required. The eclipse is safe to watch with the naked eye — though binoculars and telescopes offer a clearer view.