Lunar eclipse tonight may disappoint

Eclipses, lunar and solar, are rare enough that space enthusiasts and regular folks alike take note any time one happens.

But Friday's lunar eclipse, which will begin at 11:53 p.m. on the East Coast, just barely qualifies: only a tiny sliver of the full moon will pass through the penumbra, the outer shadow cast by the Earth.

"It will thus be impossible to notice anything out of the ordinary concerning the moon's overall appearance," SPACE.com Joe Rao explained. "It will, in fact look like any other full moon."

The eclipse will be visible in the Americas and western Africa, and webcast at the website for the Slooh Space camera.