The moon, in total eclipse, is expected to shine in shades of red. Predictions call for anything from blood to copper. The reddish hue is created because the earth's atmosphere filters the blue light from the sun. There may be bands of color noticeable in the transition zone between the penumbra and the umbra. Observers might detect areas of blue and green in this zone.
Astronomers expect the northern half of the moon to be a richer red than the southern half.
If the earth had no atmosphere to refract sunlight, the moon would appear black in eclipse. The first step the NYIP suggests is turn off your auto exposure. The auto exposure will place too much emphasis on the black space surrounding the moon, resulting in over-exposed photos. A telephoto lens is also recommended. The web site offers a simple formula to determine the size of the image produced.