Blood Moon: How and when to see it in West Midlands skies
A ‘blood moon’ is a phenomenon where by a full moon coincides with a lunar eclipse.
Many are gearing up to potentially see a ‘blood moon’ spectacle in the early hours of Friday morning (August 28).
A ‘blood moon’ is a phenomenon where by a full moon coincides with a lunar eclipse.
It is characteristically marked by a reddish appearance.
This comes weeks after a partial solar eclipse was spotted across much of the country.
Stargazers are getting ready to view another rare spectacle called a ‘blood moon’, although this may be obscured by the clouds in the sky.
To be clear, it may be a challenge for those of us in the West Midlands region to spot.
The Met Office has said that clouds are expected to dominate the skies situated in the Midlands.
As well as, for those in Cornwall, Devon, Wales, northwest England, and most of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
What time can you view the ‘blood moon’ ?
The eclipse will begin at 2.23am, though this may prove difficult to see for those viewing without equipment.
It is expected, the prime time to view the ‘blood moon’ will start at 3.33am.
What is a ‘blood moon’?
According to Merriam Webster, a ‘blood moon’ is defined as “a full moon that coincides with a full lunar eclipse and that has an unusually reddish appearance”.
Where is the best place in the UK to see the ‘blood moon’’?
Weather conditions are expected to be challenging for many hoping to see the eclipse.
As mentioned earlier, clouds are expected to dominate the skies across the Midlands.
The best place to see this rare spectacle will be for those across southern and eastern England.
Why is it coined a ‘blood moon’?
The name stems from the reddish colour that is expected to be visible.
Scientifically, this is because sunlight is spread across and bent toward the Moon as it travels through the Earth's atmosphere.
If you do manage to spot this spectacle in the West Midlands region, we would be interested to see your pictures- do email across to [email protected].