Rare total lunar eclipse ‘blood moon’ to be visible from UK | The moon
A rare total lunar eclipse “Blood Moon” will be visible from the United Kingdom on Sunday evening for the first time since 2022.
The moon should turn deep dark red while the earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, throwing its shadow on the lunar surface.
According to the Met Office, the moon will take a reddish shade because it will be lit by the light which has crossed the earth’s atmosphere and has been leaning towards the moon by refraction, diffusing blue light and allowing the red wavelengths to reach the moon.
Where the sky is clear, the eclipse will be visible around 7:30 p.m. Sunday. The Met Office recommends that people wishing to see the plan of the phenomenon of being somewhere with such a clear view of the eastern horizon as possible, ready for the lunar eclipse to peak in the United Kingdom at 7:33 pm. In built areas, this can mean going to a hill or a point of view.
The eclipse – sometimes called a “blood moon” – will be visible to the naked eye and unlike solar eclipses is sure to consider directly as the reflected light of the moon is not as brilliant.
Dr. Ed Bloomer, astronomer of the Royal Observatory of Greenwich, said that the Moon will get up in the United Kingdom just in time for people to see the end of the eclipse. He said: “The moon is quite undoubted in the sky, so the most important thing is to face the right direction.
“He will rise to the east and head south during the night. As he goes up, the most important thing will be what is low on the horizon. A flat landscape or a high position makes the best visibility – so there are no things like buildings, trees or other things.
“A lunar eclipse like this is an excellent opportunity to observe with children too. It is not too late for us in the United Kingdom, the target is pleasant and easy, and minute by minute, you will notice changes-good for a short period of attention.”
People are advised to see the eclipse to check the forecasts in their region during the weekend, but the Met Office said that the clearest sky to see the Blood Moon is probably in the southwest and in certain parts of eastern England.
The Royal Observatory said that the next partial lunar eclipse will take place in August 2026. Other well -placed regions to see the eclipse include Australia, China, India, the Philippines and certain parts of Africa.
But most North and South America will miss it entirely because they will be on the sunny side of the planet during the event.
Throughout history, blood moons have sparked fear and superstition. Ancient cultures from Norses to South America, from Amerindians to the Chinese, interpreted the Red Moon as a sign of divine anger or supernatural conflict, while the biblical texts have warned that “the sun will be transformed into darkness and the blood in blood before the day of the Lord, this great and terrible day”.
