New Delhi: The first lunar eclipse of the year took place tonight (May 4, 2004), throwing up a splendid spectacle to viewers across India with the moon turning coppery red in colour.

The nearly three-and-half-hour eclipse began at 12.18 hrs (IST) and all phases of the celestial phenomenon were observed from all parts of India and most parts of Africa, Middle East Asia and Eastern Europe.

Some phases of the eclipse could be seen from South America, Western Europe, Australia and eastern parts of Asia, director of Nehru Planetarium Dr N Rathnasree said.

"The eclipsed moon appears of coppery red colour as that part of sunlight gets refracted and falls on moon," she said.

The lunar eclipse occurs when the earth comes between the moon and the Sun.