India, Aug. 28 -- Two weeks following a total solar eclipse that captivated observers in southern Europe, a near-total lunar eclipse is scheduled to dazzle viewers on Thursday night throughout North and South America.

Lunar eclipses take place when Earth positions itself between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow on the moon's surface. In this week's occurrence, almost the entire moon - 96.2% at the peak of the eclipse - will be enveloped in Earth's shadow.

If the weather is favorable, observers in the continental United States will enjoy some of the finest views. The eclipse will also be observable in other regions of North America, South America, as well as parts of Europe and Africa.

During the eclipse, the shadow of the Earth w...