Blood Moon visible in Northern Ireland tonight - will the clouds stay away?
It will be the longest lunar eclipse of the century
Last updated 27th Jul 2018
Tonight parts the UK are set to witness the longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century. According to astronomers, the full, red-coloured Moon, will rise on Friday evening, around 9pm and stargazers will be able to see the Blood Moon light up the sky for almost two hours.
When will the lunar eclipse be visible in Northern Ireland?
The lunar eclipse will have already started by the time the Moon rises. Moonrise will be at 9.27pm in Belfast, with mid-eclipse occurring at 9.21pm and the “total” phase ending at around 10.13pm.
Latest weather forecast
Unfortunately there is a risk of clouds obscuring the sky for lots of moongazers in Northern Ireland.
Due to overhead conditions not playing ball, some parts of the country will not be able to catch the full might of the blood moon.
The best viewing conditions if you plan to catch a glimpse of the rare phenomenon will be across eastern counties.
How can I see the lunar eclipse?
You don't need any special equipment to see the lunar eclipse, it will be just visible as you would normally view the Moon.
How long will the lunar eclipse last?
From start to finish the eclipse will last approximately three hours and 55 minutes, however the totality (Blood Moon) will last for one hour and 43 minutes.
What is a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth passes between Sun and the Moon causing a shadow to cover the Moon.
What is a blood moon?
As the eclipse starts and ends the Moon appears to go dark, because of the shadow, however, during the full eclipse (totality) the Moon turns a blood red colour. This red colour is widely thought to be because of the light from the Sun is scattered by the Earth's atmosphere.
For many years the red Moon was thought to be the end of the world, however, these days many people enjoy looking at the beautiful, natural phenomenon.
Where is the lunar eclipse visible?
The lunar eclipse will be visible across the whole of the UK, the rest of Europe, Western Africa, South America, parts of Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Eastern Africa.
When is the next lunar eclipse?
The next lunar eclipse will be in North America on the 21st January 2019 and totality will last for one hour two minutes.