The rare Blood Moon total lunar eclipse started lighting up the sky late Thursday with a bright full Moon. Why it matters: It's the only lunar eclipse visible from the U.S. this year and the first total lunar eclipse since November 2022.

Earth’s shadow will block most of the light that illuminates the lunar surface, creating what is known as a blood moon.

A total lunar eclipse will make the moon appear red during the across the Western Hemisphere during the "Blood Worm Moon" this week.