Words by ITV News Producer Lucy Fitzsimons
A partial lunar eclipse will be visible in the UK skies just before dawn on Friday, giving keen stargazers a chance to see the ‘blood moon’.
The moon will darken as it moves into Earth’s shadow and will eventually turn red – which is how the cosmic phenomenon earned its nickname.
It will be the first lunar eclipse since May 2022, when the moon turned completely red.
What is a blood moon and how can you see it? ITV News explains.
What is a partial lunar eclipse and how does a blood moon form?
In a partial lunar eclipse, the sun, Earth, and moon are almost, rather than fully, aligned.
This means a dark section appears on the moon.
Dr Malcolm Fairbairn, a physics professor at Kings College London, told ITV News: “If the Earth is completely in the way of the sun, the only light which gets through to light up the moon is the light scattered by Earth’s atmosphere.
“The moon isn’t completely dark because of this, but the majority of that scattered light which gets through is red, so the moon takes on a reddish tinge.”
What is the best time to see it?
Dr Fairbairn said: “The shadow will start between ten past and quarter past five on Friday morning and you won’t be able to see it for long before the moon sets.”
The best time to see the eclipse will be at 6:19am on Friday, according to the Royal Museums Greenwich website.
A blood red “supermoon” in the skies above The Shard, London in 2015. Credit: PA
How can you get the best view?
No equipment will be needed to see the blood moon, but a pair of binoculars can help get the best view, according to Jake Foster, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich.
He added: “The moon will be very low in the sky just above the western horizon, so the best place to see it will be somewhere with a clear view of the west, free of any obstructions like tall trees or buildings.”
What will the weather be like?
On the chances of seeing the eclipse, Oli Claydon, spokesman for the Met Office, said: “The best chance of clear skies on Friday morning will be in southern Wales and southern England.
“There will be some cloud across parts of the UK further north, but with some breaks there could still be a chance of seeing the lunar eclipse further north too.”
The next lunar eclipse will happen later this year on September 7 and part of it will be visible from the UK. Credit: AP
When will the next eclipse be?
According to the Royal Museums Greenwich, a lunar eclipse occurs between two to five times a year.
The next lunar eclipse will happen later this year on September 7 and part of it will be visible from the UK.
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