Will we see the lunar eclipse in the UK?
Partial lunar eclipse from 2019 seen above Stonehenge
- Published
The night skies have already offered some amazing displays in 2025 to delight stargazers.
We have seen meteor showers, Northern Lights, two full Moons and more recently the incredible planetary parade.
The full Moon later this week is the last one of astronomical winter and a lunar eclipse will make it appear red, something known as a "Blood Moon".
The best views will be across the Americas where we will see a total lunar eclipse, but in the UK it will be a partial eclipse. At its peak from the UK just before moonset, almost all of the Moon will be in Earth's shadow, with over 90% of the Moon's surface in darkness.
A Super Blood Wolf Moon in 2019 was captured from Brighton in this sequence of images
How and when to see the lunar eclipse
The partial lunar eclipse in the UK will be visible - weather permitting - during the early hours of 14 March from 3:57 GMT before peaking at 6:19. The best chance of seeing it is by having a clear view of the western horizon.
BBC Weather Watcher sue captured this image of the Moon from Ryhill, Wakefield in early March
Why could the Moon look red?
A lunar eclipse happens when the Moon passes through the outer region of the Earth's shadow called the penumbra.
The Moon will appear red in colour caused by the scattering of sunlight through the Earth's atmosphere. This filters out the blue visible light but allows the longer wavelengths of red light through - this is the same phenomenon that gives an orange sunset.
Will the skies be clear in the UK?
The fine weather of the weekend has been replaced by colder more unsettled weather and northerly winds this week.
But there is a chance of the skies being clear enough to view the partial eclipse early on Friday, especially in the south of the UK.
Check out the forecast where you live here or by downloading the BBC Weather app.
- Published4 March
- Published2 February 2022
