Howling at the 'Blood Moon"! Coming Tues, 4/15. Ask NASA Experts About the Total Lunar Eclipse | NASA

Ask NASA Experts About the Total Lunar Eclipse | NASA

Get ready for an unusually beautiful moon to grace the night skies next week. There will be a total lunar eclipse Tuesday that will turn the moon a burnt reddish orange.

It's called a blood moon, and this one is just the first in a series of four consecutive total eclipses.

Within a year and a half, North America will be able to see a blood moon a total of four times. The moon takes on this color during the eclipse as it passes through the Earth's shadow, which is the color of a desert sunset.

The four blood moons will occur in roughly six-month intervals on the following dates: April 15, 2014; October 8, 2014; April 4, 2015, and September 28, 2015. The eclipse will begin early on the morning of April 15 at approximately 2 a.m. EDT. (source: 'Blood moon' will be a sight to behold during total lunar eclipse, by Ben Brumfield, CNN)

Other interesting reading includes: About.com Urban Legends - What's With the 'Blood Moon' On April 15?