The total lunar eclipse will start late on the night of March 13 and will end in the early hours of March 14, according to NASA. An eclipse like this happens when the Moon, Earth and Sun all align so that the Moon is passing into the Earth’s shadow.

Observers across most of the United States will have front-row seats to the spectacular total lunar eclipse overnight on March 13-14. Here's what to expect.

Lunar eclipses happen when the moon, Earth, and sun align just so. The Earth casts a shadow that can partially or totally blot out the moon.