Total lunar eclipse will be visible early on Saturday

A total lunar eclipse or “Blood Moon,” photographed in the early morning hours of April 15, 2014, at an informal star party and eclipse viewing next to the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium at Science City, in Kansas City Mo. This was the first of a lunar eclipse tetrad, which is a series of four total eclipses. The second lunar eclipse occurred on Oct. 8, 2014. The final one will be Sept. 28. JOHN SLEEZER The Kansas City Star

Early risers in Kansas City can glimpse the start of a total lunar eclipse on Saturday, weather permitting.

As the full moon sets in the west, it will seem to be gobbled up by Earth’s shadow. (No special equipment is required to observe a lunar eclipse.)

The partial phase of the eclipse will begin about 5:15 a.m., with the moon totally eclipsed relatively briefly, from 6:54 to 7:06 a.m.

Alas, for skygazers in Kansas City, that’s about the time the sun is rising and the moon is setting, which will preclude viewing the end of the eclipse.

The Star

This story was originally published April 3, 2015 at 7:48 AM with the headline "Total lunar eclipse will be visible early on Saturday."

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