Lunar eclipse observed on Japan's Pacific coast

People on the Pacific coast of Japan were able to view a total lunar eclipse on Saturday night.

This was the first time in 11 years that an entire lunar eclipse was visible from any place in Japan.

The phenomenon occurs when the earth casts its shadow over a full moon, with the sun, moon, and earth being exactly aligned.

In Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, home to NHK, the shadow started to fall on the moon shortly before 10 PM, Japan time.

The total eclipse was observed just after 11 PM. The moon appeared dusky red due to solar rays refracted in the earth's atmosphere and could be seen with the naked eye for about 50 minutes.

The National Astronomical Observatory says the next total lunar eclipse visible in Japan will occur in October 2014.