A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth lines up between the sun and the moon , blocking the sun 's rays and casting its shadow on the moon , according to NASA . The eclipse was visible to North America , Greenland and Iceland . The United States would n't see another total lunar eclipse until 1950 . The last lunar eclipse to occur on the day of the winter solstice was in 1638 .
The eclipse was visible to North America , Greenland and Iceland . The United States would n't see another total lunar eclipse until 1950 . The last lunar eclipse to occur on the day of the winter solstice was in 1638 .