( CNN ) -- Stargazers glimpsed a rare treat as a `` blood moon '' crossed the Earth 's shadow Tuesday . The moon took on a devilish glow as it appeared in different phases from 2 to 4 a.m . ET . Hundreds of people from North and South America , where the blood moon was most visible , shared their images of the lunar spectacle with CNN iReport . `` My dad and I have been planning to view this for many months , and it was truly a breathtaking experience , '' said high school student and astronomy enthusiast Ahan Malhotra from Miami . If rain or clouds obscured your lunar experience , do n't fret . This episode is the first of four consecutive total lunar eclipses -- known as the tetrad -- that will occur in six-month intervals until September 2015 . Unlike solar eclipses , lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye and do n't require special filters . Did you capture the blood moon in its best light ? Share your images with CNN iReport , or upload your photos via CNN 's mobile app . Top 5 tips for great astrophotography .
The moon turns a dark reddish color before dawn . Unlike solar eclipses , lunar images are safe to view with the naked eye . Hundreds across North and South America share their images . Share your ` ` blood moon '' images with your iReport .