During the total lunar eclipse of July 28, 2018, nearly the entirety of the Americas experienced daytime and couldn’t see any of it at all. Six months later, the January 20/21, 2019 lunar eclipse will be visible everywhere on the North and South American continents. (CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES)

The Ultimate Viewing Guide To 2019’s Pan-American Supermoon Lunar Eclipse

Whether you caught or missed the eclipse of January 20/21, 2019, here’s what you need to know for all the ones you’ll ever view again.

On January 20/21, 2019, a very special astronomical event will occur: the Moon will pass completely into the Earth’s shadow, creating a total lunar eclipse. Visible from all of North and South America, as well as parts of western Africa, northern and western Europe, and northern Asia, it marks the first Pan-American eclipse of the 21st century.

Unlike its counterpart — a total solar eclipse — there are no special places you need to be. There is no special equipment you need to view it or enjoy it, and so long as your skies cooperate and the Moon doesn’t set on you, you’ll be able to enjoy the entirety of the eclipse. It’s one of the night sky’s most spectacular and accessible sights, and there are over a billion people who’ll have the opportunity to take advantage of it. Here’s your guide to making the most of it.

During most total lunar eclipses, a partial eclipse is followed by a dark red taking over the Moon from one side, with one limb always remaining brighter and whiter than the other. The partial phases, combined with the apparent angular size of the Moon, enable us to determine the relative sizes of the Earth and Moon, the distance between them, and will eventually lead us to the Earth-Sun distance and the stars. But rather than focusing on the science, you (and practically all skywatchers) should focus on making the most of the sights and the experience. (KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)