A deep partial lunar eclipse will be visible from the UK and Ireland in the early hours of August 28, with the Moon turning a copper colour during the event. Known as a "blood moon", this celestial spectacle comes just over two weeks after the UK experienced a near-total solar eclipse, when up to almost 97 per cent of the Sun was covered in parts of Cornwall.
The timing is no coincidence, as a solar eclipse always takes place within two weeks of a lunar eclipse, either before or after it. During this week's event, around 93 per cent of the Moon will be in the darkest part of the Earth's shadow, known as the umbra, as the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon.
What to expect during the eclipse
This week will bring a partial lunar eclipse, with nowhere in the world witnessing a total one this time round. Royal Museums Greenwich explained: "During a partial lunar eclipse, the portion of the Moon within Earth's umbra (deep shadow) may appear reddish or copper-coloured. This is because sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere is scattered and refracted towards the Moon."
Apart from the UK, other parts of Europe, North and South America and Africa will also witness the event. While the Sun coverage during the recent solar eclipse generally varied between 90 and 97 per cent across the UK, the whole of the British Isles will see the same percentage of the Moon in shadow.
Unlike the solar eclipse, there is no need for special glasses, as the lunar eclipse is as safe to watch with the naked eye as looking at the Moon on any given night.
Timings for UK viewers
Viewers will need to stay up late to see the eclipse at its best, but due to the high coverage, the event is well worth waiting for. At 2.23am, the penumbral part of the lunar eclipse will start, meaning the Moon will move into the lighter part of the Earth's shadow, called the penumbra.
While subtle at the beginning, the darkening of the Moon will intensify as it moves deeper into the penumbra. Royal Museums Greenwich states that the partial phase of the lunar eclipse is due at 3.33am, when the Moon will start moving into the Earth's umbra.
The maximum of the eclipse will be at 5.12am, when 93 per cent of the Moon's visible surface will be in the darkest part of the shadow. While the eclipse will officially end at 6.51am, the Moon will have already set below the horizon by then, at around 6.15am in London, with timings varying slightly across the British Isles.
Key times to look out for
- Penumbral lunar eclipse begins: 2.23am
- Partial lunar eclipse begins: 3.33am
- Partial lunar eclipse maximum: 5.12am
- End of visible eclipse (due to the Moon setting below the horizon): 6.15am from London, with moonset timings varying for different locations
Partial eclipse ends at 6.51am, but this is not visible below the horizon.
