The United Kingdom is set to experience a partial lunar eclipse on August 28, an event that could cause the Moon to appear reddish. This phenomenon, often referred to as a 'Blood Moon,' occurs when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the lunar surface.
During a partial lunar eclipse, only a portion of the Moon enters the Earth's umbra, the darkest part of its shadow. While the Moon is not entirely obscured from sunlight, the light that does reach it is filtered through Earth's atmosphere. This atmospheric scattering effect allows longer, red wavelengths of light to pass through more readily, while shorter blue wavelengths are scattered away. The reflected red light then illuminates the Moon, giving it its distinctive, often dramatic, reddish appearance.
The eclipse sequence begins with the first penumbral contact at 02:23 BST. The main phase of the eclipse, where the Moon starts to enter the umbra, commences at 03:33 BST. The peak of the eclipse, when 93% of the Moon will be obscured, is expected at 05:12 BST. The Moon will set at 06:15 BST.
While the specific timing and visibility can be influenced by local weather conditions, clear skies will offer the best vantage point for observers across the UK to witness this celestial spectacle.