WASHINGTON: People in North and South America, a large part of Europe and Africa may get a glimpse of a total lunar eclipse overnight from Jan 20 to 21, the last such event until 2022.

For those in Europe and Africa, the total eclipse will unfold shortly before sunrise. For those in North and South America, the eclipse can be viewed at the beginning or in the middle of the night.

Although total lunar eclipses happen, on average, about one to three times per year, after this one there will be a gap of three years until another is visible. The next total eclipse will be visible from Europe on May 16, 2022. Some partial lunar eclipses will happen in the meantime.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2019