It will be the first total lunar eclipse visible from Utah since 2004, and unlike solar eclipses, it requires no special viewing equipment.

The moon will begin to enter the dark part of Earth's shadow at 2:51 a.m., when the moon will be about one-third of the way up in the southwestern sky, according to Patrick Wiggins, NASA Solar System Ambassador to Utah.

The moon will become totally eclipsed at 3:52 a.m. and last until 5:22 a.m., when the moon will be low in the southwest. The moon will continue moving out of the eclipse until 6:24 a.m., when it will be out of view for most Utahns, especially those with high terrain in the west.

The next total eclipse of the moon visible from Utah won't occur until 2010.

The next partial eclipse of the sun, when the Earth passes into the moon's shadow, won't happen until 2012, and the next total eclipse won't occur until 2045.

For additional astronomical information, including a list of all eclipses visible from Utah through 2025, visit Wiggins' Solar System Ambassador web site at http://utahastro.info.

smcfarland@sltrib.com