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Total Lunar Eclipse - Super Blood Moon

Total Lunar Eclipse - Super Blood Moon Photo: PA IMAGES

Some would argue that there's always something exciting happening in the skies above us, but during the early hours of Monday morning (21st January 2019) we don't need a telescope to see the total lunar eclipse. This spectacular sight will be visible to the naked eye across all parts of the UK - weather permitting.

As if a total lunar eclipse wasn't amazing enough, this month's full moon is also at its perigee; at its closest position to Earth in its orbit, appearing larger than normal and often dubbed a 'Supermoon'.

What is a total lunar eclipse?

The moon will be in the Earths shadow during the early hours of Monday morning. The Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, blocking off the light supply and turning the moon red. Often called a 'Blood Moon".

The moon is in the Earth's shadow early hours of Monday morning Credit:

Why does the moon turn red?

The moon is likely to appear pinky red as light gets bent and then filtered through fine dust particles in the Earth's atmosphere. The shorter blue wavelengths are blocked to the naked eye, the longer red wavelengths are intensified.

When will we see it?

The eclipse will begin at around 2.30am and finish just before sunrise. The best time to see it is at it's totality which begins at 4.41am GMT, lasting over an hour, finishing at 5.43am.

When is the next one?

The next total lunar eclipse visible in the UK occurs 16th May 2022