If you’re looking for a beautiful night under the clear of the Moon, there’s no better opportunity than tonight, when the celestial body is ready to put up an incredible show for us, that of course if the weather will be kind enough to allow it.

The last total lunar eclipse until December 2010 will be visible from the two Americas to Europe and Africa, but the Americans will be the most fortunate to see it at a reasonable hour, beginning at approximately 7:43 CST.

The Sun, the Earth and the Moon will perfectly align at 10:26 CST, when our planet will interpose between the other two and its natural satellite will enter a cone of shadow and turn vivid red, a unique spectacle astronomy lovers shouldn’t miss.

The Moon will not disappear, as some are tempted to think, as it traverses the umbra, but it will change colors and turn red due to the fact that the refracting sunlight will first traverse Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the Moon, and because of the atmosphere’s density and dust particles, the light is scattered.

And to make the celestial display even more spectacular, Saturn, the sixth planet from the Sun, will become visible on the lower left side of the Moon, while Regulus, the brightest star in the Leo constellation, will show up on its right side.

For a complete view of the total lunar eclipse, the weather should be forgiving tonight and play along, leaving clear skies, or at least some holes in the clouds. Sky watchers with a telescope will then be able to see Saturns' spectacular rings.

Lunar eclipses usually occur at least two times a year, but partial ones have the highest incidence and don’t compare to total ones. There won’t be another eclipse such as this until the end of 2010, while the next one after that will not occur for five more years.