
A National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) handout photograph shows the Washington Monument as the full moon is shadowed by the Earth during a total lunar eclipse on the arrival of the winter solstice, 21 December 2010 in Washington DC, USA. From beginning to end, the eclipse lasted about three hours and twenty-eight minutes. EPA/BILL INGALLS / NASA / HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY

A handout photograph provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shows a total lunar eclipse as the full moon is shadowed by the Earth on the arrival of the winter solstice, 21 December 2010, in Arlington, Virginia, USA. From beginning to end, the eclipse will last about three hours and twenty-eight minutes. EPA/BILL INGALLS / NASA / HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY

A partial lunar eclipse seen from a field near Petersdorf (Oder-Spree), Brandenburg, Germany, at 07:32 CET on 21 December 2010. The total eclipse took place at 08:40 local time, by which the moon had set above most of Germany though. EPA/PATRICK PLEUL

A handout photograph provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shows a nearly total lunar eclipse as the full moon is shadowed by the Earth on the arrival of the winter solstice, 21 December 2010, in Arlington, Virginia, USA. From beginning to end, the eclipse will last about three hours and twenty-eight minutes. EPA/BILL INGALLS / NASA / HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY

A handout photograph provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shows a total lunar eclipse beginning as the full moon is shadowed by the Earth on the arrival of the winter solstice, 21 December 2010, in Arlington, Virginia, USA. From beginning to end, the eclipse will last about three hours and twenty-eight minutes. EPA/BILL INGALLS / NASA / HANDOUT MANDATORY CREDIT: (NASA/Bill Ingalls) EDITORIAL USE ONLY