See moon turn red during lunar eclipse
Eastern States skywatchers will be able to catch a glimpse of the first total lunar eclipse in two years tonight.
The moon will appear red, creating a phenomenon known as a "blood moon" as the Earth's shadow creeps across the lunar disk.
Speaking to National Geographic, Canadian astronomer Raminder Singh Samra lunar eclipses were exciting because nature put on a free show for everyone to enjoy.
"It causes us to look back at the sky and re-examine our place in the solar system and beyond," Samra said.
Lunar eclipses occur only when there is a full moon and the sun, Earth, and moon are precisely aligned for our planet's shadow to turn out the lunar lights.
During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes behind our planet so that Earth blocks the sun's rays from striking the moon.
Due to the moon's tilted orbit around the Earth, one doesn't occur every month.
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar ones are safely visible to the unaided eye.
According to the Sydney Observatory, the best times to see the eclipse are:
All times are local.
Adelaide: Moon rise at 5.48pm; total eclipse ends at 5.55pm; eclipse ends at 7.03pm
Brisbane: Moon rise at 5.27pm; maximum eclipse is at 5.46pm; total eclipse ends at 6.25pm; eclipse ends at 7.33pm.
Darwin: Moon rise at 6.41pm; the eclipse ends at 7.33pm.
Hobart: Moon rise at 5.33pm; maximum eclipse is at 5.46pm; total eclipse ends at 6.25pm; eclipse ends at 7.33pm.
Melbourne: Moon rise rises at 5.49pm; total eclipse ends at 6.25pm; eclipse ends at 7.33pm.
Sydney: Moon rise at 5.28pm; maximum eclipse is at 5.46pm; total eclipse ends at 6.25pm; eclipse ends at 7.33pm.
Perth will be unable to see the eclipse
According to National Geographic next week's event kicks off a lunar eclipse tetrad or group of four.
For two years, a lunar eclipse will occur every six months.
As well as tonight, mark your calendars for October 8 and for April 4 and September 28, 2015.
