Lunar eclipse tomorrow

A total lunar eclipse will take place early tomorrow morning when the moon passes through earth's shadow, changing from white to a reddish colour.

Although the moon will be covered by the earth some light passing through our atmosphere will be bent and will reach the lunar surface - thus the reddish hue. A bright colour during totality indicates a clean atmosphere since more light can pass through.

The moon will first encounter earth's central shadow at 4.03 a.m. and total eclipse begins at 5.14 a.m. when the moon will be eight degrees above the western horizon.

The fast approaching dawn steals most of the spectacle as the sun rises at 5.56, the Astronomical Society said.