Mostly clear skies Wednesday night gave many people the rare opportunity to see a total lunar eclipse with the naked eye, or through their camera lenses.

The full moon slid through the earth’s dark shadow and for 50 minutes, the only light hitting the moon was the reddish glow from all of earth's sunrises and sunsets.

The Rose City Astronomers Club set up telescopes at the east parking lot of OMSI for public viewing and lessons from the experts.

The entire event was visible from South America and most of North America, as well as Western Europe, Africa and western Asia, from start to finish.

Slideshow: Eclipse timelapse captured on camera

Photos: Send us your pics | View photos

As the moon rose from the east, the eclipse began at 5:43 p.m. PST when the umbral shadow took a small, dark bite out of the left edge of the moon. For 73 minutes of the partial phase, the darkness engulfed more of the moon's disk as it slid into the shadow.

The partial eclipse ended and totality began at 7:01 p.m. PST, when the moon slid completely within the umbra. The total phase lasted 50 minutes, with mid-eclipse (when the moon looks darkest) occurring at 7:26 p.m. PST with the moon at 18 degrees above the eastern horizon.

The total eclipse ended at 7:51 p.m. as the moon exited the umbra. Then at 9:09 p.m., the moon left the earth's umbral shadow.

Unlike solar eclipses in which the sun's rays can damage the eyes, lunar eclipses are safe to watch with the naked eye. Binoculars and telescopes will enhance the view.

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The eclipse occurs during what early Native American tribes called the full Snow Moon, since winter's heaviest snows often occur in February.

The last total lunar eclipse in the Northwest occurred in August 28, 2007, with the moon appearing burnt orange. If you miss this one, another total eclipse will ocur December 21, 2010.