A total lunar eclipse will be visible across much of England and Wales on Sunday night, with the moon set to turn a striking deep red colour. Clear skies are forecast for the celestial event, which marks the first "blood moon" visible since 2022.
The dramatic colour change occurs when Earth passes directly between the Sun and Moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. According to the Met Office, the Moon takes on its reddish appearance because light passing through Earth's atmosphere bends towards the Moon through refraction, scattering blue wavelengths while allowing red light to reach the lunar surface.
Viewing conditions across the UK
The eclipse will become visible around 7:30pm, reaching its peak at 7:33pm across the UK. Much of England and Wales should enjoy excellent viewing conditions with clear spells continuing into the night, the Met Office said.
However, northern England and Scotland face less favourable weather prospects. These regions will experience persistent cloud cover and heavy rain throughout the evening and overnight, significantly reducing visibility for eclipse watchers.
Best viewing locations and tips
The Met Office recommends finding locations with unobstructed views of the eastern horizon for optimal eclipse viewing. In urban areas, hills or elevated viewpoints offer the best vantage points to avoid buildings and trees blocking the spectacle.
Dr Ed Bloomer, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, explained that timing works perfectly for UK observers. "The Moon is pretty unmistakable in the sky, so the most important thing is to face the right direction," Dr Bloomer said. "It'll be rising towards the east, and head southwards over the course of the night."
The astronomer emphasised the importance of clear sightlines for successful viewing. "As it rises, the most important thing will be whatever is low on your horizon. A flat landscape, or an elevated position makes for the best visibility - literally so there aren't things like buildings, trees, or other things in the way."
Family-friendly stargazing opportunity
Unlike solar eclipses, this lunar event is completely safe to view directly with the naked eye, as the Moon's reflected light poses no danger to observers. Dr Bloomer highlighted the eclipse's appeal for families with children.
"A lunar eclipse like this is a great opportunity for observing with kids too. It isn't too late for us in the UK, the target is nice and easy and minute by minute you will notice changes (good for short attention spans)," he said.
Looking ahead
The Royal Observatory Greenwich confirmed that the next partial lunar eclipse won't occur until August 2026, making Sunday's event particularly significant for astronomy enthusiasts. This timing gap emphasises the rarity of such celestial displays visible from the UK.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
