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Star-gazers and astronomers worldwide today watched the first total lunar eclipse to occur in three years.
The moon will turn a shade of crimson as light reaching it from the sun is almost completely blotted out by the Earth.
The eclipse was at least partly visible on every continent, although residents of Europe, Africa and the Middle East had the best view, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
Lunar eclipses occur when Earth passes between the sun and the moon, an uncommon event because the moon spends most of its time either above or below the plane of Earth's orbit.
While New Zealanders will miss the show, we will have front row seats to the next total lunar eclipse, which is scheduled for August 28.
- NZHERALD STAFF