PEOPLE who missed the longest total lunar eclipse in a decade will have another chance before Christmas.

The December 10 event will last about 50 minutes - half the duration of yesterday's - but Adelaide Planetarium lecturer Paul Curnow said it would still be "pretty red".

"It will be at 12.30am, which is a better time and it's also a good time of year to see planets," he said.

Sky watchers were treated to a cold, misty morning yesterday as the Earth's shadow slowly crept over the Moon's face between 3.53am and 6.32am.

Wispy clouds threatened to blur their view but the blood-red colouring was distinctive, shining through the mist, with frequent crisp, clear glimpses through the chill haze.

The moon glowed red because light from the sun passed through dust and pollution in the Earth's atmosphere.

Mr Curnow said while eclipses aren't ultra rare, an eclipse like yesterday's only occurred about once a decade.

"It was a rare central type of eclipse where the moon passes directly in front of the centre of the Earth's shadow. The last time was in 2000," Mr Curnow said.

"The number of lunar eclipses visible from somewhere on the Earth in a single year can range from zero to three."

Originally published as This year it's twice in a red moon