Watch lunar eclipse LIVE

A rare total lunar eclipse is happening today, June 15, and will be visible in parts of South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa.

The event will be the longest lunar eclipse in 11 years, beginning at 6:24pm (CET) and ending at midnight. During this time, the Earth's shadow will completely cover the moon for one hour and 41 minutes.

The moon will change color as it moves deeper into the Earth's shadow, changing from gray to orange or possibly deep red.

According to Spaceweather.com, ash clouds from the recent Chilean Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcanic eruption could create an even darker shade of red.

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft will zoom in during this celestial phenomenon, allowing people in North America, where it won’t be visible, to see a digital version instead.

LRO’s Diviner Lunar Radiometer will determine how quickly certain areas of the moon’s day side cool off due to the eclipse.

"This is an unprecedented opportunity to learn more about the uppermost few millimeters of the moon," says Diviner Principal Investigator David Paige at the University of California.