Rare blood moon lunar eclipse set for UK how to see it

The phenomenon will create shades of red, pink and orange as the full moon passes out of the sun’s rays and into the shadow cast by the Earth.

The partial lunar eclipse is expected to be visible from the UK on Thursday, March 13 and Friday, March 14.

Those in the UK won’t see the eclipse in its totality so will need look up at the sky early in the morning to catch a glimpse.

Astrologers predict that those in North and South America will be able see the process in full, those in Europe will see the beginning and middle phases and those in Asia will see the end.

A blood moon happens when the Earth's moon is in a total lunar eclipse.

This lunar event happens when the moon is fully in Earth's shadow, and the light from the our sunrises/sunsets falls onto the moon's surface.#EarthCapture by Ricky Goodyear via Instagram pic.twitter.com/ChiOrPD1pb

— BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) August 23, 2022

What is a blood moon?

A blood moon is a red-coloured full moon that occurs during a lunar eclipse. This happens when the Earth moves between the moon and the sun, casting a shadow on the moon. 

The moon appears red because the light from the sun must pass through the Earth's atmosphere.

A blood moon can only occur during a full moon, when the sun fully illuminates the moon's surface. 

A blood moon is not dangerous to look as it is just reflecting the sun’s rays and is safe to gaze upon.

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Will I be able to see the lunar eclipse?

The blood moon will be last for just over an hour, according to experts, but how much of the eclipse will be visible will depend on location.

The eclipse will begin at 3:57am on March 14 and hit its peak at 6.58am - when it has set below the horizon in the UK.

This means the best time for Britons in London to witness the phenomenon will be at 6.19am, a few minutes after sunrise, according to Royal Museums Greenwich.

Later in the year, another total eclipse will occur on September 7.