Connor Pursley, 14, of Bend, looks through a telescope at the moon during an evening viewing in 2014 at the Oregon Observatory at Sunriver.

Connor Pursley, 14, of Bend, looks through a telescope at the moon during an evening viewing on Saturday at the Oregon Observatory at Sunriver.

The observatory will be open tonight from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. for a special viewing of the total lunar eclipse that will occur. A total lunar eclipse takes place when the moon passes into the Earth’s shadow and appears a reddish color due to light bending and shining through the Earth’s atmosphere.

The eclipse should start just before 11 p.m. and last until after 1 a.m. The event is free, with donations accepted, and also features telescopes aimed at Saturn, Mars and Jupiter.