Taipei, March 28 (CNA) A total lunar eclipse will take place in Taiwan on April 4, producing the most visible "blood moon" since the one seen in October 2014, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said Saturday.

It said the eclipse will begin before the moon rises at 6:04 p.m. on April 4 and last until around 8:45 p.m.

The moon will appear copper as it becomes fully obscured by the Earth's shadow between 7:54 p.m. and 8:06 pm., the museum said, adding that the 12-minute-long episode will also be the shortest of its kind in Taiwan over the 21st century.

●Click here for photos of last year's lunar eclipse.

In a total lunar eclipse, the Earth is positioned between the sun and the moon, blocking sunlight from what would otherwise be a radiant full moon. Stargazers will see a bright full moon turn a reddish hue, hence the nickname "blood moon", according to the museum.

However, the moon does not completely disappear in a total lunar eclipse because of the refraction of sunlight by the Earth's atmosphere into the shadow cone.

But moon watchers in Taiwan will only be able to see part of the eclipse; they won't be able to see a total lunar eclipse in full progress until Jan. 31, 2018, the museum said.

(By Lee Hsin-Yin)
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