Rare Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse Wows Stargazers
MIAMI (CBS4) - You may have a lot of tired co-workers today.
Hundreds of people across South Florida either stayed up really, really late or got up really, really early to catch a rare winter solstice lunar eclipse.
It started around 1:30 a.m., when the moon, which appeared to be directly over South Florida, started to change colors to shades of orange. Within an hour it was completely covered. Just before 4 a.m. it was be back to its old shiny self.
This was the first full lunar eclipse to coincide with winter solstice in 372 years.
A total lunar eclipse happens when the Earth blocks the sun's rays from the face of the moon. The winter solstice is when the sun hits the lowest point in the northern sky.
Astronomers believe the next time there will be a winter solstice lunar eclipse will be in the year 2094.
