Do you need special eyeglasses to see tonight's lunar eclipse?

December 20, 2010

A rare phenomenon can be seen high the sky overnight tonight - a full lunar eclipse.

According to CBS News, eye experts say individuals interested in seeing the eclipse don't need to wear special protective eyeglasses, such as is recommended for solar eclipses.

MSNBC.com reports that lunar eclipses are best viewed by the naked eye or with a pair of binoculars.

North America is expected to have the best view of the eclipse, starting just after 2:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

Don't worry if it's too cloudy, either. NASA will be streaming the eclipse live for anyone to enjoy.

During a lunar eclipse, the full moon passes through the earth's shadow. This results in a darkening of the moon. This time, however, experts say they expect the moon to have a red or brown glow due to the tons of dust that have been sent into the atmosphere by recent volcanic eruptions around the world.

The moon's next brush with totality comes on June 15, 2011, but North Americans will miss out, according to MSNBC.com. The next good opportunity for North Americans to see a total lunar eclipse comes on April 14-15, 2014.

While looking at the nighttime sky without protective eyewear is not dangerous, experts say it is never safe to look directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, as the light and radiation can harm one's eyesight, according to CBC News.

When viewing a solar eclipse, individuals are urged to look through a pinhole in a piece of paper or a telescope.

Keeping the eyes protected from the sun is important everyday through the use of polarized sunglasses.