The moon is seen in the sky during a total lunar eclipse in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 31, 2018. A red moon will grace the sky in most parts of China for over an hour during a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday night, according to the Beijing Planetarium. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A red moon will grace the sky in most parts of China for over an hour during a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday night, according to the Beijing Planetarium.
The lunar eclipse, which is expected to begin at 7:48 p.m., will last for about five hours. As the moon passes into Earth's shadow, it will exhibit a reddish tinge as the sunlight is refracted while shining through Earth's atmosphere.
The red moon is expected to be visible between 8:51 p.m. and 10:08 p.m., lasting about one hour and 17 minutes.
The moon will also appear bigger as its orbit is near its closest point to Earth.
The last time a complete lunar eclipse occurred was September 28, 2015. The next lunar eclipse will happen on July 28.
The moon is seen in the sky during a total lunar eclipse in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Jan. 31, 2018. A red moon will grace the sky in most parts of China for over an hour during a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday night, according to the Beijing Planetarium. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)
The moon is seen in the sky during a total lunar eclipse in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 31, 2018. A red moon will grace the sky in most parts of China for over an hour during a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday night, according to the Beijing Planetarium. (Xinhua/Song Zhenping)
The moon is seen in the sky before a total lunar eclipse in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 31, 2018. A red moon will grace the sky in most parts of China for over an hour during a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday night, according to the Beijing Planetarium. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)
The moon is seen in the sky during a total lunar eclipse in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Jan. 31, 2018. A red moon will grace the sky in most parts of China for over an hour during a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday night, according to the Beijing Planetarium. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)
The moon is seen in the sky during a total lunar eclipse in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 31, 2018. A red moon will grace the sky in most parts of China for over an hour during a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday night, according to the Beijing Planetarium. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)
The moon is seen in the sky during a total lunar eclipse in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 31, 2018. A red moon will grace the sky in most parts of China for over an hour during a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday night, according to the Beijing Planetarium. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)
The multiple exposure photo taken on Jan. 31, 2018 shows the moon in the sky during a total lunar eclipse in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province. A red moon will grace the sky in most parts of China for over an hour during a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday night, according to the Beijing Planetarium. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
The moon is seen in the sky during a total lunar eclipse in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 31, 2018. A red moon will grace the sky in most parts of China for over an hour during a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday night, according to the Beijing Planetarium. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)
The moon is seen in the sky during a total lunar eclipse in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Jan. 31, 2018. A red moon will grace the sky in most parts of China for over an hour during a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday night, according to the Beijing Planetarium. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)
The multiple exposure photo taken on Jan. 31, 2018 shows the moon in the sky during a total lunar eclipse in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province. A red moon will grace the sky in most parts of China for over an hour during a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday night, according to the Beijing Planetarium. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
The moon is seen in the sky during a total lunar eclipse in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 31, 2018. A red moon will grace the sky in most parts of China for over an hour during a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday night, according to the Beijing Planetarium. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi)
Combo photo taken on Jan. 31, 2018 shows different shapes of the moon during a total lunar eclipse in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 31, 2018. A red moon will grace the sky in most parts of China for over an hour during a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday night, according to the Beijing Planetarium. (Xinhua/Luo Xiaoguang)
