Who can see the total lunar eclipse? Where to catch the 'blood moon'

The moon will cast a blood-red hue over parts of the Earth in the wee morning hours of Tuesday, March 3, and much of the United States will be able to see.

A total lunar eclipse will be viewable over large swaths of the Americas this week, creating a phenomenon often called a "blood moon." In the pre-dawn hours of March 3, a full moon will be covered by Earth’s shadow, creating the eclipse. This phenomenon also marks March's full moon, known as a worm moon, giving skygazers and early risers an extra treat.

Here's what to know about March's upcoming total lunar eclipse, also called a blood moon or the worm moon.

When is the total lunar eclipse?

Stargazers can observe the eclipse on Tuesday, March 3, from around 4 a.m. ET to around 7 a.m. ET, while a partial eclipse will continue until roughly 9 a.m. ET.

The timeline of the eclipse, according to NASA, is predicted to go as follows:

• 3:44 a.m. ET- Penumbral eclipse begins; the moon enters Earth's outer shadow
• 4:50 a.m. ET- Partial eclipse begins; a "bite" appears on the moon
• 6:04 a.m. ET- Totality begins; the moon turns dark red or orange
• 7:03 a.m. ET- Totality ends
• 8:17 a.m. ET- Partial eclipse ends, and the dimming of the moon will begin
• 9:23 a.m. ET- The eclipse is over

Who can see the total lunar eclipse?

About 176 million people, or 2% of the world's population, will be able to witness the eclipse's complete phases, according to TimeandDate.com.

The total lunar eclipse will be visible over North America, parts of South America, East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. If you live in the western United States, including Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington, you'll be able to see the lunar eclipse's peak totality. 

In western and midwestern U.S. cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and surrounding areas, viewers will be able to see the full, dramatic effect of the total eclipse, according to projections from Space.com, NASA, TimeandDate, and the app Star Walk.

Those in more central regions such as Denver, Dallas and Chicago will catch a glimpse of the red moon, though they won't be able to view the full eclipse from beginning to end.

Some cities in the northeast, including New York and Washington, may be able to catch a brief glimpse at totality, though they will not be able to watch the later stages of the eclipse.

What is a total lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes into Earth's shadow while aligning with our planet and the sun.When the moon is imperfectly covered by Earth's shadow, it produces a partial lunar eclipse. In a total lunar eclipse, the entire moon moves into the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, called the umbra, completely blocking it from the sun, according to NASA. 

Total lunar eclipses are often called "blood moons" due to the moon's tendency to become rusty red when it is completely hidden by Earth's shadow.

Contributing: Julia Gomez, Michelle Del Rey, Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY