Exact time you can see the Blood Moon lunar eclipse tonight in the UK
Sky-watchers who stay up late tonight – or get up early tomorrow (Monday, May 16) – can witness the rare spectacle of a total lunar eclipse of the full Blood Moon. In the early hours of the morning the Earth’s orbit will see it positioned exactly between the Moon and the Sun, blocking all direct sunlight from illuminating the Moon’s surface.
We’ll see a Blood Moon because the marginal sunlight bouncing through the Earth’s atmosphere will immerse the Moon in a reddish-orange glow, reports the Express. Terrestrial observers across the globe will be heading outside to watch the celestial phenomenon, which will be the first total lunar eclipse since May 26, 2021, and the first of two to take place this year.
These eclipses aren’t always visible for sky watchers in certain areas. But this one will be pretty clear for many, weather permitting. For those in Britain and further across Europe, the Blood Moon will be visible in the early hours of Monday, May 16.
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When is the best time to see the Super Blood Moon in the UK?
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(Image: Joseph Okpako/Getty Images)
For those in Britain, the partial eclipse will start at 2.28am BST. During this phase, the Moon travels through the Earth’s full ‘umbral’ shadow. According to Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG), on this occasion, only a small section of the Moon will be covered by the umbra at maximum eclipse.
Unlike those in America, Britons will not be able to see every part of the eclipse, but you will be able to see its totality phase when the Moon turns red. The total lunar eclipse phase will start in the UK just before 4.30am and will last for more than five hours, before ending at 7.50am.
However, UK stargazers will only be able to see the eclipse between 2.28am and 5.10am, as the Moon will have sunk below the horizon by this time. The eclipse lasts so long because the Earth is four times wider than the moon. This means its shadow can darken the Moon for around five hours, and in some cases six, depending on the weather.
The optimal time to view the eclipse in London will be between 4.29am and 5.06am, when the whole red Moon will be visible. You’ll be able to see the eclipse simply by going outside during the optimal viewing time, but NASA will be live streaming it here too, with expert commentary on each step of the process.
Why is it called the ‘Blood Moon’?
When a lunar eclipse occurs, the Moon will turn a dark red colour. The Royal Observatory have advised that this happens because “it is illuminated by light that has passed through the Earth’s atmosphere and has been bent back towards the Moon by refraction.”. A lunar eclipse is often called a “Blood Moon” because of the red colour it appears to be. The colour that the Moon will appear to be will depend on the global state of dust in the atmosphere.
Why doesn’t a lunar eclipse happen every month?
Total lunar eclipses only take place at least twice, every three years according to RMG. An eclipse will only occur during the Full Moon phase of the Moon’s cycle, but this doesn’t happen every month – despite the cycle lasting 29.5 days.
This is because the Moon’s orbit is inclined five degrees relative to the Earth’s orbit, meaning it will move slightly up and down as it travels around Earth, instead of in one straight, even path.
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