North America will be treated to a front row seat to a total lunar eclipse Thursday night into Friday morning this week. Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse does not require any protective eyewear. The Moon will pass through Earth's shadow, turning a deep orange/red for a little over an hour.
Earth actually produces two shadows, an outer shadow called the penumbra and inner shadow called the umbra. Visually, it's the passage through that inner shadow that we care about (prior to this, the Moon only darkens slightly). Totality will begin at 2:26 am and end at 3:31 am in WNY.
Our local cloud cover situation is quite encouraging. While not expected to be crystal clear, a mixed sky should allow for opportunities to see the show.
Worth noting, Friday is expected to be beautiful with temperatures soaring into the 60s with partial sunshine. You know, just in case you're (cough cough), not feeling well after your late night watching the eclipse.