A partial “blood moon” lunar eclipse will be visible across the UK and other parts of the world overnight, with live footage showing the Moon turn a reddish or copper colour.
Around 93% of the Moon will move into the darkest part of Earth’s shadow at the eclipse’s maximum, with the spectacle also visible across North and South America, Africa and other parts of Europe.
What causes the blood moon effect
A lunar eclipse happens when Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Moon to lie in Earth’s shadow. During a partial lunar eclipse, part of the Moon moves into Earth’s deepest shadow, known as the umbra.
Sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere is scattered and refracted towards the Moon, creating the distinctive “blood moon” effect.
Where the eclipse will be visible
The eclipse will be visible across the UK and Ireland, as well as North and South America, Africa and other parts of Europe. Some countries will see the eclipse during the late evening of August 27 due to differences in time zones, while viewers in the UK and Ireland will see it in the early hours of August 28.
The live feed is expected to show views of the eclipse from a number of locations around the world, including Buenos Aires, Argentina; Lisbon, Portugal; San Diego, US; Santiago, Chile; Durham, UK; Saint John, Canada; and Bogota, Colombia. The locations included in the livestream may be subject to change.
Exact timings for UK viewers
At 2.23am, the Moon begins entering the lighter outer part of Earth’s shadow, known as the penumbra. By 3.33am, part of its surface will move into the darker umbra as the partial phase gets under way.
Maximum eclipse is due at 5.12am, when around 93% of the Moon will be within Earth’s deepest shadow. In London, moonset is expected at around 6.15am. Viewers in the UK and Ireland will therefore not see the eclipse through to its conclusion, with the partial phase ending at around 6.51am.
How to watch the eclipse
People hoping to see the eclipse should try to find a spot with an unobstructed view of the south-western sky, particularly as the Moon will move lower towards the horizon as the eclipse progresses. No protective glasses or specialist equipment are needed, as it is safe to look directly at the Moon during a lunar eclipse.
Cloud cover could make the eclipse harder to see in some parts of the UK, but the event can also be followed through the livestream. The eclipse comes just over two weeks after the UK experienced a partial solar eclipse on August 12, as a solar eclipse always takes place around two weeks before or after a lunar eclipse.
