Full lunar eclipse brings out ‘blood moon’

A total lunar eclipse appears next the Las Vegas High Roller at The LINQ early Tuesday, April 15, 2014. People in most of north and south America were able to witness this year's first total lunar eclipse, which will cause a 'blood moon' and is the first of four in a rare Tetrad of eclipses over the next two years. (David Becker/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

As the moon completely crosses the earth's shadow, the first of four total lunar eclipses this year and next, called the "blood moon," occur in Whittier, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Nick Ut )

This composite photo shows multiple images of the moon during the stages of a lunar eclipse, as seen from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on Tuesday, April 15, 2014. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, John Woods)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Sky-gazers in North and South America were treated to a full lunar eclipse — at least those fortunate enough to have clear skies.

The moon was eclipsed by the Earth’s shadow early Tuesday, beginning around 1 a.m. EDT (10 p.m. PDT) for 5 ½ hours. The total phase of the eclipse lasted just 78 minutes.

For some, the moon appeared red-orange because of all the sunsets and sunrises shimmering from Earth, thus the name “blood moon.”

It’s the first of four eclipses this year and the first of four total lunar eclipses this year and next. In the meantime, get ready for a solar eclipse in two weeks.

NASA got good news Tuesday: Its moon-orbiting spacecraft, LADEE survived the eclipse. Scientists had feared LADEE might freeze up in the cold darkness.