A partial lunar eclipse is photographed in the skies over Islamabad, Pakistan in 2008. North Americans can see a full lunar eclipse early Tuesday morning. (Anjum Naveed/Associated Press)

By CBC News

This year's winter solstice on Tuesday will fall on the same day as a full lunar eclipse for the first time in 456 years.

The rare, 72-minute lunar eclipse -- when the sun, the Earth and the moon align -- will begin in the early morning hours on Dec. 21 in North America, and should cast an amber glow on
snowy landscapes, said NASA.

Since the eclipse coincides with winter solstice, the moon will appear high in the sky -- a boon for sky watchers. With recent volcanic eruptions around the globe dumping tons of dust into the atmosphere, scientists predict the moon may appear darker than usual during the eclipse, glowing an eerie red or brown instead of the usual orange-yellow tinge.

Scientists said the last time a full lunar eclipse coincided with the winter solstice was in AD 1554.

Unlike solar eclipses, which require protective glasses, lunar eclipses are safe to watch with the naked eye.

With files from The Associated Press

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