Los Angeles - Just in time for Christmas... The year's only total lunar eclipse will occur on Monday night or early Tuesday depending on where you live.
North and Central America and a tiny sliver of South America will have the best view. Weather permitting, skygazers in those regions should be able to view the entire eclipse, expected to last about three hours.
The moon is normally illuminated by the sun. During a total lunar eclipse, the full moon passes through the shadow created by the Earth blocking the sun's light.
Total eclipse begins at 11.41pm PST on Monday or 2.41am EST on Tuesday. The totality phase - when the moon is entirely inside Earth's shadow - will last a little over an hour. - Sapa-AP