Lunar eclipse a rare treat for Hawaii

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The lunar eclipse that will usher in winter will be the first visible in Hawaii in three years, scientists say.

By 9:42 Monday night Hawaii time, the moon will be in total eclipse, Mike Shanahan of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu told the Honolulu Star Advertiser.

Since the full moon in December follows a high path across the sky, "this one will go way overhead," he said.

The Earth's shadow will begin to darken the moon at 1:33 a.m. Tuesday EST and the event will finish at 5:01 a.m., CNN reported, citing NASA. The winter solstice occurs at 6:38 p.m. Tuesday.

The total phase of the eclipse, when the entire moon passes through the Earth's umbra, or inner shadow, will run from 2:41 to 3:35 a.m. EST. Before and after the total eclipse, the moon will pass through the Earth's outer shadow, the penumbra, which blocks some of the sun.

The entire event may be visible from North America, Greenland and Iceland. Western Europe may see the beginning the eclipse before moonset while western Asia may observe the end after moonrise.

This is the first total lunar eclipse visible in Hawaii since Aug. 28, 2007, Shanahan said.