WASHINGTON (DC News Now) -- A total lunar eclipse known as the blood moon is making a special appearance early Friday morning. Though clouds forecasted to hit the D.C. area may not provide the best view, astronomers still say it might be worth it to stay up for a chance to watch the moon turn a r ed, orange color. “It’s definitely a treat,” said Mariel O’Brien with Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. “We are hoping for good weather.” A total lunar eclipse happens when the Earth is positioned between the moon and the sun. When stray bits of sunlight filter through the Earth's atmosphere, it illuminates the full moon red - hence, the name "blood moon." How to photograph the total lunar eclipse “NASA likes to say on their website that you are seeing all the sunrises and all the sunsets on the Earth at the same time,” O’Brien said. The blood moon will be visible for about an hour, starting at 2:26 a.m. Friday morning. Peak viewing will be close to 3 a.m. Dr. Woody Davis is the president of the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club, one of the largest in the country. “We have over 1,200 members,” said Davis. “We have members from across the scientific community and we do a lot of different things all the time across the area.” Many of his members will be staying up to catch the blood moon and hope it inspires others to care more about space. “More and more people are going into space, and this is one way to start,” he said. Astronomers say that if people miss their chance to see the blood moon this time around, there will be another chance to view it in March of next year.  ...read more read less