GREENBELT, Md., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- NASA says U.S. sky watchers can look forward to a total lunar eclipse visible across all of North America coinciding with the winter solstice.

The eclipse, lasting about 3 hours, 28 minutes, will begin at 1:33 a.m. EST Dec. 21 for observers on the East Coast, a release Friday from the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center said. Watchers on the West Coast will be able to view it a bit earlier, starting at 10:33 p.m. PST Dec. 20 ,until 2:01 am PST Dec. 21.


Totality, the period when Earth's shadow completely covers the moon, will last a full 72 minutes, NASA said.

A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth comes directly between the sun and the moon, blocking the sun's rays and casting a shadow on the moon.

This will be the last chance for sky watchers in the continental U.S. to see a total lunar eclipse until April 15, 2014, NASA said.