Stages of the eclipse. PHOTO: JOHN COSGROVE
Clear skies on Tuesday night meant North Canterbury sky gazers were treated to the colourful display as a total lunar eclipse turned the Moon red.

The total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon, Earth and Sun line up during a full moon.

The Earth effectively blocks any sunlight from reaching the Moon, and instead light is bent through the Earth’s atmosphere, casting a reddish hue to fall over the Moon.

The next one will not be seen until 2025.