The UK is set to witness a striking partial lunar eclipse, known as the Blood Moon, in the early hours of Friday, with the phenomenon expected to peak shortly after 5am. The Moon will appear larger than usual and glow an eerie red, though cloudy weather means some areas will have a better chance of viewing the spectacle than others.
Sky-gazers can check how viewing conditions will fare in their local area, and the exact time the maximum eclipse will appear, by entering their postcode into an interactive tool. The event occurs when the Sun, Earth and Moon align in the night sky, causing a red hue to appear on the full Moon, nicknamed the Sturgeon Moon. The Moon's position will also be low on the horizon, creating a 'Moon Illusion' that makes it appear much larger than normal.
Timing and Visibility
The partial lunar eclipse is due to begin at 2.23am, when the Moon enters the penumbra, the lighter outer region of Earth's shadow, causing a gradual dimming. At 3.33am, the Moon will move into the darker umbra before the eclipse reaches its peak at 5.12am, when around 93% of the Moon will be covered by the deepest part of Earth's shadow. The event is expected to last until about 6.51am, but many Brits will miss its final stages as the Moon begins to sink down to the horizon at around 6.15am.
No protective glasses will be needed to watch Friday's lunar eclipse, as it is safe to look directly at the Moon. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, blocking out sunlight and casting a shadow on the Moon's surface.
Regional Forecast
The Met Office has warned that for some, visibility may be challenging due to cloudy weather. The forecaster said that although "there may not be one location offering ideal conditions throughout the event", there are two parts of Britain which have the best chance of catching the spectacular moment.
"The greatest chance of seeing something is likely to be across southern and eastern England during its earlier stages, before cloud becomes more extensive," a Met Office spokesperson said. "Elsewhere, any temporary breaks in the cloud could still provide brief views." These areas are set to be largely cloud-free from around 2am, giving people a greater chance of catching the opening stages of the eclipse.
The forecaster added: "However, cloud is forecast to increase across the south and east as the night progresses. Cloud amounts are also expected to build elsewhere across the UK, meaning conditions may become increasingly unfavourable before the eclipse reaches its maximum at 5.12am."
As the lunar eclipse prepares to dazzle skies on Friday, clouds will be expected across Cornwall and Devon, Wales, the Midlands, parts of northwest England, and most of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Brits in Northeast England may have their view partly obstructed by patchier clouds.
The event comes just a fortnight after the historic August 12 partial solar eclipse, which caused a frenzy as Brits raced to get their hands on certified solar eclipse glasses. For a guide on how best to view the event in your local area, type your postcode into the lunar eclipse gadget to find out what time the eclipse will reach its maximum, what direction to look in, and whether or not your view could be obstructed by clouds.
