The stages of a total lunar eclipse (Picture: Getty/500px)
Pray for good weather on Saturday, as another nighttime spectacle is set to hit UK skies – a partial lunar eclipse.
And unlike a solar eclipse, you can stare at this one with the naked eye as much as you like.
Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on our cosmic neighbour.
Like solar eclipses, there are different types.
During a total lunar eclipse, the Sun, Earth and Moon are in perfect alignment. The Moon is completely caught in Earth’s full ‘umbral’ shadow and turns a deep dark red – earning it the nickname blood moon.
This happens because it is only faintly illuminated by light that has been bent backwards as it passes through our atmosphere due to the process known as refraction – think of when you put a straw in a drink and it appears to bend.
A blood moon, or total lunar eclipse (Picture: Getty/500px)
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the trio are not quite perfectly lined up. Instead, the Moon passes through the outer part of the Earth’s shadow, known as the penumbra. The surface of the Moon does not appear as dark or as red as during a total eclipse.
Saturday’s display will be a partial lunar eclipse, meaning only part of the Moon dips into Earth’s umbral shadow.
Because of this, a partial lunar eclipse doesn’t last as long as a full eclipse – so timing is everything.
A partial eclipse over Australia (Picture: Getty)
How to watch the partial lunar eclipse
‘During the partial lunar eclipse, the moment when the Moon begins its passage into Earth’s umbral shadow will start at 20:35:25 BST,’ says Dr Minjae Kim, a research fellow in the department of physics at University of Warwick.
‘This phase, particularly notable for viewing, will last for an hour and 17 minutes. The climax of this occurrence, termed the ‘maximum eclipse’ or ‘greatest eclipse’, is projected for 21:14:05 BST.’
Luckily for skygazers, no equipment is needed to watch a lunar eclipse, but it will look even more impressive with binoculars or a telescope.
Only a small portion of the Moon will be eclipsed on Saturday (Picture: Getty)
However, with just 12% of the Moon covered by the Earth’s deepest – or umbral – shadow at its maximum, Dr Kim warns ‘meticulous timing is paramount for those keen on capturing the event’.
For those inspired by the ‘mini’ eclipse this weekend, there will be a penumbral lunar eclipse on March 25 next year, with another partial lunar eclipse in September.
The most recent total lunar eclipse in the UK took place on May 16, and lasted for five hours.
Patience will be required to watch the next one, set to take place on September 7, 2025.
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Timing is everything.
