Total Lunar Eclipse, Blood Moon, Expected Over LI Early Tuesday

LONG ISLAND, NY — The last total lunar eclipse for three years is slated to take place early Tuesday morning over Long Island.

"Better catch the moon's disappearing act Tuesday—there won't be another like it for three years," the Custer Observatory in Southold said on social media Monday.

According to NASA.gov, the last total lunar eclipse for three years will occur on Tuesday, with the next occurring on March 14, 2025 — though there will still be partial and penumbral lunar eclipses during that time.

NASA said that a lunar eclipse takes place when the sun, earth and moon align so that the moon passes into the earth's shadow. "In a total lunar eclipse, the entire moon falls within the darkest part of earth’s shadow, called the umbra. When the moon is within the umbra, it will turn a reddish hue. Lunar eclipses are sometimes called 'Blood Moons' because of this phenomenon," NASA said.

You'll have to set your alarm to see the eclipse; According to LongIsland.com, the moon will begin to enter the outer part of the Earth’s shadow at 3:02 a.m., when the moon will begin to dim. At 5:17 a.m., the total eclipse begins and at 6:42 a.m., the moon will exit the earth's umbra and the red color will fade, the report said.