The moon is pictured in stages leading up to a full eclipse on Wednesday. Clouds rolled into Lawrence about 8:30 p.m., blocking the final stages of the eclipse, which, according to NASA, will be the last total lunar eclipse in the U.S. until Dec. 20, 2010.

Tonight’s eclipse of the moon will begin about 7:45 p.m., and the viewing from Lawrence backyards should be clear – but cold.

The phenomenon can be seen in Lawrence, beginning with a partial eclipse about 7:45 p.m. By 9 p.m., the moon will be totally eclipsed and will remain that way until about 9:50 p.m., according to NASA. Then the partial eclipse will end about 11 p.m.

About 8:30 this evening, however, some clouds rolled in and will limit the view for the next couple of hours. Some breaks in the cloud cover are expected, which may allow some viewing of the eclipse. And temperatures – and wind chills – will be extremely cold.

Schack predicts tonight’s temperatures at 12 to 14 degrees, but winds will make that feel much colder – ranging from 3 degrees above zero down to 5 degrees below zero.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the sun and the moon, so the Earth’s shadow is cast over the moon.

Although this will be the third total lunar eclipse visible in the U.S. in about a year, that doesn’t mean they’re a frequent event. According to NASA, this is the last chance for a total lunar eclipse in the U.S. until Dec. 20, 2010.