The red color comes about because light from the Sun as it reaches the Earth must pass through the dense atmosphere of Earth before reaching the Moon. The scattering of this sunlight produces the red coloring.

Thus, at about 2:52 PDT the start of the total lunar eclipse begins.

On the east coast, the begin of the total lunar eclipse is 5:52 am EDT August 28, in the central part of the country its 4:52 am CDT, in the mountain time region it is 3:52 am MDT, in Alaska its 1:52 am, and in Hawaii its 11:52 pm (August 27).

To find out when the eclipse will happen in your locality, go to Time Zone Converter. For instance, 12:54 am PDT August 28 (in Los Angeles, California, U.S.) would convert to 5:54 pm August 28 in Sydney, Australia.

The NASA website "Total Lunar Eclipse 2007 Aug 28" also gives information about the eclipse.

The total lunar eclipse will last about 90 minutes.

A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon. When it does so, the Earth casts a shadow on the Moon. The phenomenon called a lunar eclipse is different than a solar eclipse (which happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth) because, in the latter case, the Sun’s light is prevented from reaching the Earth.

Lunar eclipses do not happen very often, about twice each year. They do not occur very often because the plane of the Earth’s orbit about the Sun is at an angle that is different from the planet of the Moon’s orbit about the Earth. Once every six months, these two planes intersect to produce a lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse always happens when the Moon is a full Moon.

An interesting description of the total lunar eclipse, as seen from the surface of the Moon, appears on the Science at NASA website. It is described below:

“To understand why the change occurs, close your eyes and dream yourself all the way to the Moon. Once again, you're standing on a seashore—the Sea of Tranquillity. There's no water. You're surrounded by hundreds of miles of dusty, hardened lava. Overhead hangs Earth, nightside down, completely hiding the Sun behind it. The eclipse is underway.”

“With the Sun blocked, you might expect utter darkness, but no, the ground at your feet is aglow. Why? Look back up at Earth. The rim of the planet seems to be on fire. Around Earth's circumference you see every sunrise and sunset in the world—all at once. This incredible light beams into the heart of Earth's shadow, transforming the Moon into a landscape of copper moondust and golden hills.”

Unlike a solar eclipse, you will not be looking at the Sun, but instead the Moon, so no protective eyewear is necessary. Just go out and enjoy the August 28th total lunar eclipse.

[Author note: article updated on 8-25-07 with respect to addition of time conversions.]

[Author note: article updated on 8-26-07 with respect to Alaska time.]
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