Sunday evening will mark a rare event, where Brits could be able to witness a total lunar eclipse or ‘blood moon’, an event where the moon turns into a deep red colour. A lunar eclipse takes place when the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow across the moon’s outer surface.
The moon becomes a red colour because the sunlight is filtered and refracted through the Earth’s atmosphere, dispersing blue light, and allowing red wavelengths to hit the Moon. Brits will be able to see the eclipse take place in the early evening, when the moon will rise above the horizon at 7:30pm, already being in total eclipse.
It will be the first time since May 2022 that a blood moon has been visible in the UK, and according to the Met Office, the next one will not occur until August 2026.
Skies must be clear for people to witness the lunar eclipse as it will be positioned low in the sky.
The Met Office said: “To maximise your chances of seeing the eclipse, plan to be in position ahead of 7:30pm with as clear a view of the eastern horizon as possible. In urban areas, this might mean heading to a hill or a popular viewpoint.”
Sunday evening is forecasted to be fairly cloudy in certain areas of the country, with some regions forecasted for rain. The clouds in the east and northeast should clear up by the evening.
Rainfall in the west and southwest will make fast progress into the north east. However, some eastern and northeastern will potentially remain dry until later in the day, providing a better chance for a clear view of the blood moon.
Those in the southwest and parts of Eastern England, will have the clearest skies for the eclipse according to the Met.
Equipment such as binoculars or a telescope can improve the experience, but the eclipse will be visible to the naked eye, weather conditions permitting. The Met Office also highlighted that it is safe to view directly, as the light is not bright enough to cause any damage to your eyes.