Sunday's 'Blood Moon' Total Lunar Eclipse Visible Across Much of Europe, Africa and Asia

Sky-watchers in much of the United Kingdom and large parts of the Eastern Hemisphere are being urged to look skyward on Sunday evening for a total lunar eclipse that will turn the full Moon a deep red — a phenomenon often called a "Blood Moon." The eclipse's full phase is scheduled to run from 18:30 until 19:52, though how much of that will be visible depends on local moonrise and weather conditions.

Observers in eastern parts of the UK will have the best chance to see the full effect when the Moon rises. For example, moonrise in Norwich is forecast at about 19:25, leaving several minutes of totality to observe. By contrast, in the westernmost parts of Wales and Cornwall the Moon will rise very near the end of totality, offering only a minute or two of the deep-red appearance. Northern Ireland and western Scotland will not see the total phase but may catch some of the Earth's shadow traversing the lunar surface.

The event is visible in full across wide swathes of easternmost Africa, the Middle East, most of Asia and western Australia, where the entire eclipse sequence — from the Moon’s entry into Earth’s umbra through the end of totality — will be observable from start to finish. Most of the Americas, however, will be unable to see the eclipse because it occurs while the Moon is below the horizon there.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, blocking direct sunlight from illuminating the lunar surface. During totality, sunlight that passes through Earth's atmosphere is refracted and scattered; shorter blue wavelengths are preferentially removed, leaving longer red and orange wavelengths to light the Moon, producing the characteristic reddish tint.

Visibility at any given location will depend on the exact time of local moonrise, the altitude of the Moon above the horizon and local weather. Clear, unobstructed views of the eastern horizon will improve chances of seeing the transition into totality where moonrise occurs during the eclipse. Binoculars or a small telescope can enhance details of the lunar surface and the progression of Earth's shadow but are not required to observe the colour change.

Astronomers and broadcasters advise checking local moonrise times and the timing of the eclipse for one’s location to plan viewing. Cloud cover can obscure the event entirely, so forecasts should be consulted in the hours before moonrise.

For people planning public or private viewing events, organisers often recommend arriving early to set up and to allow eyes to adapt to night conditions. Photographers seeking to capture the colour change or lunar features may use a telephoto lens or a tracking mount to compensate for the Moon's motion across the sky.

Total lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye, unlike solar eclipses, which require protective eyewear. This eclipse offers millions of people across several continents an opportunity to observe a clear astronomical demonstration of Earth's shadow and atmospheric effects on sunlight.