Stargazers will see a stunning astronomical display at the end of this week as a rare blood moon lunar eclipse grazes the sky.

The incredible phenomenon will take place on Friday evening (July 27), and will last for around one hour and 43 minutes – the longest lunar eclipse this century.

Skywatchers will also see one of the best views of Mars in over a decade.

The red planet will appear brighter than it has in 15 years as it passes close to the Earth on the same night.

Luckily, the display will be visible with the naked eye, meaning you don’t need to splash on expensive telescopes to get involved.

Here’s everything you need to know about the lunar eclipse 2018.

When is the Lunar Eclipse in the UK?

The blood moon lunar eclipse takes place on Friday (July 27)

The lunar eclipse will take place on Friday night.

It will begin at 8.49pm, and last until 10.13pm.

However, the optimal time to get out and witness the blood moon is at 9.21pm.

How to see the Lunar Eclipse in the UK




When to see the Lunar Eclipse in Croydon

It will be the longest lunar eclipse this century

8.50pm - Moonrise

9.21pm - Maximum eclipse

10.31pm - Total eclipse ends

9.19pm - Partial eclipse ends

What is a lunar eclipse?

As you probably know, the moon orbits Earth, which orbits the sun.

Once in a while, the Earth lines up directly between the sun and the moon.

When this happens, Earth blocks the light from the sun to the moon, and Earth’s shadow then falls on the moon.

This is known as a lunar eclipse.

Why are blood moons red?

During this week’s lunar eclipse, the moon will turn red.

This is due to the fact that during a total lunar eclipse, the Earth moves between the sun and the moon, cutting off the moon's light supply.

However, instead of going dark, the surface of the Moon takes on a reddish glow due to the wavelength of light that remains.