A “blood moon” lunar eclipse is set to be visible across the UK and Ireland in the early hours of Friday, with the Moon expected to turn a reddish or copper colour.
The phenomenon happens when Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. Around 93% of the Moon will move into the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra, at the eclipse’s maximum at 5.12am.
Timings and visibility
The penumbral phase begins at 2.23am, before the partial eclipse starts at 3.33am. Cloud could make viewing difficult in parts of the UK, with the Met Office saying southern and eastern England have the greatest chance of seeing the earlier stages before cloud becomes more extensive.
Viewing details
The Moon will begin to set at around 6.15am in London, while no protective glasses are needed to watch the eclipse. The spectacle comes just over two weeks after the UK experienced a near-total solar eclipse.
