People in Manchester will have the chance to see the Moon turn an eerie shade of red in the early hours of Friday as a spectacular lunar eclipse takes place over the UK.
Stargazers across the country could catch a glimpse of the celestial event as the Sun, Earth and Moon align, causing the Earth to cast its shadow across the lunar surface.
Deep partial eclipse timing
The deep partial lunar eclipse will take place in the early hours of August 28, when around 93% of the Moon is expected to be covered by the darkest part of Earth's shadow at the peak of the event.
But whether people will actually be able to see the eclipse will depend heavily on the weather, with cloud cover expected to threaten views in several parts of the UK.
Where will the Blood Moon be visible?
The Met Office has warned that "conditions are expected to be challenging for many hoping to see the eclipse", although southern and eastern England are expected to have the best chance of catching at least part of the spectacle.
A Met Office spokesperson said: "The greatest chance of seeing something is likely to be across southern and eastern England during its earlier stages, before cloud becomes more extensive."
"Elsewhere, any temporary breaks in the cloud could still provide brief views."
Unlike a solar eclipse, which can only be seen from certain parts of the world, a lunar eclipse can be watched by everyone on the night side of Earth at the same time.
The Moon's position in the sky will vary depending on where people are watching from, but the eclipse itself will take place simultaneously across the UK.
What time will the lunar eclipse take place?
The Moon will first enter the lighter outer part of Earth's shadow, known as the penumbra, at 2.23am.
The partial phase of the eclipse will begin at 3.33am as the Moon moves into the darker central part of the shadow, known as the umbra.
The spectacle is due to reach its peak at 5.12am, when around 93% of the Moon will be covered by the darkest part of Earth's shadow.
The partial eclipse will continue until around 6.51am, although the Moon will set before then in some parts of the country.
In London, for example, the Moon is expected to disappear below the horizon at around 6.15am.
Cloud could spoil the view in some areas
Cloud is forecast to affect Cornwall and Devon, Wales, the Midlands, parts of north-west England, most of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Patchier cloud is also expected in north-east England, while southern and eastern parts of England could have the best opportunity to catch the earlier stages of the eclipse.
The Met Office has warned that cloud is likely to become more extensive as the night goes on, meaning those hoping to see the event may need to take advantage of any breaks in the sky.
People hoping for the best possible view should find a high vantage point with a clear view towards the south-western horizon.
Why does the Moon turn red?
The reddish colour associated with a so-called Blood Moon is caused by sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere.
As the light passes through the atmosphere, shorter wavelengths are scattered, while redder light is bent towards the Moon, giving it its striking appearance.
Unlike a solar eclipse, the lunar eclipse is completely safe to view with the naked eye, meaning no special glasses or equipment are required.
Anyone with clear skies in the early hours of Friday could therefore be treated to one of the year's most dramatic astronomical displays.
