The Drama of a Total Lunar Eclipse

The Earth's shadow is cast over the surface of the Moon in the sky over a cloudy and foggy San Antonio at 1:09 a.m. Central Standard Time on Dec. 21, 2010.

The moon is seen through supports for the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge between the Brooklyn and Staten Island boroughs of New York, during the lunar eclipse early Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010.

The Lunar Eclipse proceeds though its partial phase at 1:14 AM, Central Standard Time.

The moon is shown at 2:04am EST during an eclipse seen near Gainesville Fla..

The earth's shadow progresses across the moon during a lunar eclipse seen from Dallas.

The Earth's shadow is cast over the surface of the Moon as a Lunar Eclipse proceeds though its partial phase in the sky over Tyler, Texas at 12:57 a.m. CST.

Three snow hikers watch the almost full moon rise behind the Weissfluhjoch in Arosa, Switzerland.

A picture taken in New York shows the moon in the early stages of a lunar eclipse on December 21, 2010. This eclipse is notable because it takes place just hours before the December solstice, which marks the beginning of northern winter and southern summer.

The moon begins to turn a reddish color at 2:52 a.m. EDT during a total lunar eclipse, seen from Valrico, Fla.

A picture taken in Manassas, Virginia shows the moon during the peak of the total eclipse on December, 21, 2010. During the eclipse, the Earth aligned between the full moon and the sun, covering the lunar surface in shadow. The eclipse is also falling on the same day as the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere - a rare occurrence that hasn't happened in 372 years.

A series of photos taken over an hour long period show the full moon as it is shadowed by the Earth as a total lunar eclipse marks the arrival of the winter solstice Tuesday, December 21, 2010 in Overland Park, Kan.

A double expousure picture shows the moon and the monument of The Savior of The World during a total lunar eclipse as seen from San Salvador, El Salvador on December 21, 2010. This eclipse takes place just hours before the December solstice, which marks the beginning of northern winter and southern summer.

The moon on its way to being totally eclipsed is seen with the Chrysler Building in the foreground in New York, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth casts its shadow on the full moon, blocking the sun's rays that otherwise reflect off the moon's surface. Some indirect sunlight still pierces through to give the moon its eerie hue.

AP Photo- The Fayetteville Observer- Johnny Horne

The eclipsed moon glows in the predawn sky Tuesday morning December 21, 2010 in this view from Stedman, NC. This picture is a 10 second time exposrure made through an amater astronomer's 12 1/2 inch Telescope.

In a photo provided by NASA the Washington Monument is seen as the full moon is shadowed by the Earth during a total lunar eclipse on the arrival of the winter solstice, Tuesday, December 21, 2010 in Washington. From beginning to end, the eclipse lasted about three hours and twenty-eight minutes.