Lunar eclipse to take place from 4:22 a.m. Thursday

The moon will totally disappear into the shadows of the earth from 4:22 a.m. to 6:03 a.m. Thursday, the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASS) reported Wednesday.

The moon will start to enter the dim shadow of the earth at 2:23 a.m. and will be eclipsed by its dark shadow from 3:23 a.m.

The total eclipse will be visible for about 50 minutes until 5:10 a.m.

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is in direct alignment with the Sun and the Earth.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes behind the earth so that the earth blocks the sun's rays from striking the moon. There are two basic types of moon eclipses _ a partial lunar eclipse and total lunar eclipse.

The next total eclipse of the moon will take place on Dec. 10, according to the institute.