Conditions good for viewing eclipse tonight

After a cloudy afternoon "conditions should become ideal for watching the eclipse of the moon" in the Greater Boston area tonight.

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That is the forecast of the National Weather Service at Taunton.

The NWS said on its website the upper level disturbance bringing clouds to the region this afternoon should move away and bring clear skies by shortly after nine tonight when the first signs of the eclipse will be visible.

Tonight will be a total eclipse of the moon and the journey of the moon through Earth's shadow will take about three hours.

NASA on its website points out the "pale-white moon will turn pumpkin orange as it plunges into shadow, becoming eerie red during totality.''

In the Eastern Time zone the moon will enter the Earth's shadow at 9:14 p.m. Totality begins at 10:23 p.m. and ends at 11:45 p.m. The moon will exit Earth's shadow at 11:54 p.m.

The October full moon in folklore is called the ''Hunter's Moon'', but because the moon tonight turns red during the eclipse it will also be known as the "'Blood Moon".