Total Lunar Eclipse Will Be Shortest in a Century
What to expect from Saturday's show in the sky.
— -- Don't press the snooze button for this one.
The total lunar eclipse set to take over the skies on Saturday will be the shortest in a century, lasting five minutes and turning the moon red, according to NASA.
The sky spectacle will be visible from all parts of the United States, with people in the eastern part of the country seeing the beginning stages of the partial umbral eclipse before sunrise at 6:16 ET.
The total eclipse will be visible to people in the Western United States at 4:58 PT. At this time, the moon will turn a shade of blood red as it skims the outskirts of Earth's shadow.
The eclipse is the third in a tetrad, a series of four eclipses. The fourth is set for Sept. 28, 2015.
The best part of all for Saturday's phenomenon: No telescope is needed. If you're in an area with visibility, all you'll need to do is step outside to enjoy the view -- that is, if you can catch it in time.