Partial Lunar Eclipse - Friday 14th March

In my March What's UP? blog I highlighted the partial Solar eclipse which you'll be able to see on March 29th.

However, early-rising UK stargazers are in for a treat tomorrow 14th March as a lunar eclipse takes place just before dawn.

For most of the UK the eclipse will be partial as the Earth's shadow will not cover all of the Moon. For some far western regions, and across the Americas, the eclipse will be total, weather permitting

As the Moon moves into Earth's shadow, it will gradually darken before turning a dusky red, resulting in a stunning "blood moon". A weather front will bring some cloud overnight but there is a good chance skies will be clear enough to see it.

The penumbral phase (when the Moon first enters Earth's outer shadow) will begin at 03:57 on Friday.

The partial eclipse - when the Moon starts moving into the darker part of Earth's shadow - will begin at 05:09.

Lunar eclipses are visible from anywhere on Earth where the Moon is above the horizon at the time.

At 06:58 the eclipse will reach its true maximum; however, in almost all of the UK, the Moon will have already set below the horizon, so we won't be able to see this.

Very western areas like the Scottish highlands, west Cornwall and the very western parts of Northern Ireland may get a brief glimpse of total eclipse.

For those in North America, most of South America, and western Greenland, the eclipse will be total.