A RARE total eclipse will see the Moon turn deep red over the UK tonight.
The stunning spectacle is known as a Blood Moon and it won’t happen again in Britain for years.
The moon seen shining over Mexico City during a total lunar eclipse[/caption]
Stargazers across the UK should be able to see it, as long as the sky is clear and free from clouds.
Astronomers have revealed exactly when you’ll want to look up.
And we also explain why a total lunar eclipse occurs and turns the Moon red.
WHEN IS THE NEXT BLOOD MOON IN THE UK?
The next lunar eclipse of any kind in the UK is due to take place on September 7, 2025 – that’s today.
It happens to be a total lunar eclipse, which is the best kind.
We haven’t had a total lunar eclipse in the UK since May 2022, and July 2018 before that.
This eclipse will be low in the sky, which might make it tricky to see if you’re in a built-up area.
So get out into an open space or high up so you have as clear a view as possible.
“The Moon will rise above the horizon just in time for us to see this total lunar eclipse from the UK,” the Royal Observatory Greenwich explained.
“The maximum will occur at 7.33pm BST from the UK, with the eclipse’s actual maximum at 7.11pm when the Moon is below the horizon.
“The Moon will then gradually move out of Earth‘s umbra and penumbra until 9.55pm.
“As the Moon will be low on the horizon and quite difficult to see, find a high point with a clear view to the East to see the most of this eclipse.”
If you miss this one, don’t worry: it’ll happen again. Just not for a while.
There’s a partial lunar eclipse due on August 28, 2026.
A total lunar eclipse turns the Moon a reddish colour[/caption]
And then we’ll see another total lunar eclipse on December 31, 2028.
Beyond that, you’ll be able to view another total lunar eclipse on June 14, 2031.
WHAT CAUSES A TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE?
A lunar eclipse is a bit like a solar eclipse – but in a slightly different order.
Instead of the Moon blotting out the Sun for the Earth, we see the Earth blocking the Sun for the Moon.
This phenomenon is also known as a Blood Moon because it can turn the Moon a deep red.
There are actually several different kinds of lunar eclipses.
Least impressive of all is the penumbral lunar eclipse.
It’s when the Moon moves through the outer part of Earth’s shadow – also known as the penumbra – which is very faint.
The Moon – our closest neighbour explained
Here's what you need to know…
- The Moon is a natural satellite – a space-faring body that orbits a planet
- It’s Earth’s only natural satellite, and is the fifth biggest in the Solar System
- The Moon measures 2,158 miles across, roughly 0.27 times the diameter of Earth
- Temperatures on the Moon range from minus 173 degrees Celcius to 260 degrees Celcius
- Experts assumed the Moon was another planet, until Nicolaus Copernicus outlined his theory about our Solar System in 1543
- It was eventually assigned to a “class” after Galileo discovered four moons orbiting Jupiter in 1610
- The Moon is believed to have formed around 4.51billion years ago
- The strength of its gravitational field is about a sixth of Earth’s gravity
- Earth and the Moon have “synchronous rotation”, which means we always see the same side of the Moon – hence the phrase “dark side of the Moon”
- The Moon’s surface is actually dark, but appears bright in the sky due to its reflective ground
- During a solar eclipse, the Moon covers the Sun almost completely. Both objects appear a similar size in the sky because the Sun is both 400 times larger and farther
- The first spacecraft to reach the Moon was in 1959, as part of the Soviet Union’s Lunar program
- The first manned orbital mission was Nasa’s Apollo 8 in 1968
- And the first manned lunar landing was in 1969, as part of the Apollo 11 mission
This happens when the Earth is between the Sun and Moon but the trio aren’t lined up perfectly.
A better event is the partial lunar eclipse, which is when the Moon not only passes through the penumbra but the umbra too. That’s the darkest part of Earth’s shadow.
This will cause much of the Moon’s face to be darkened because of the shadow.
Best of all is the total lunar eclipse – that’s what’s taking place on September 7, 2025.
This image shows the early stages of the May 2022 total lunar eclipse, with the Moon beginning to darken[/caption]
This is when the Sun, Earth, and Moon line up properly.
The Moon passes through the darkest part of Earth’s shadow.
Normally when you see the Moon lit up at night, it’s reflecting light from the Sun.
But during a total lunar eclipse, Earth is in the way.
So the only light it gets is passing through Earth’s atmosphere and then refracted back towards the Moon.
This is what gives the Moon a deep red colour, because it’s getting this refracted light and not direct sunlight.
