Lunar Eclipse

From Science Online

A lunar eclipse happens when the earth passes between the sun and the moon. When that happens, the moon is in the earth's shadow and is partially or totally obscured from view. A partial eclipse is referred to as "penumbral" whereas a total eclipse is referred to as "umbral."

Because the moon and sun are on the opposite sides of the earth, the moon always appears full before and after an eclipse occurs. Because of this, the perceived effects of an eclipse are dramatic. The night goes from being brightly lit to very dark. When a lunar eclipse happens, light reflected from the full moon is eliminated by the earth's shadow.

For updates regarding recent and future lunar eclipses, see (NASA).