SCOTS will get the chance to see a breathtaking celestial show in days when a spectacular Blood Moon graces our skies.
The lunar phenomenon will see the Moon turn a bright red colour in the night sky as a total eclipse takes place.
2
Scots will be able to see a Blood Moon in daysCredit: Getty – Contributor
2
The different stages of a Blood Moon during an eclipseCredit: Alamy Live News
A total eclipse means the Sun, Earth, and Moon will align perfectly, and this causes a dark section to appear on the Moon.
The Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, which blocks sunlight and moves the Moon into the Sun’s shadow.
Over time, this gives the moon a reddish hue, earning its “blood moon” nickname.
The celestial event will be the longest since 2022, and Scots will be among those lucky enough to catch a glimpse.
The cosmic wonder is set to take place next weekend on Sunday, September 7.
And the Royal Museums Greenwich says the timing is perfect for UK stargazers.
It is set to be visible from Australia, Asia, Africa, and Europe, with around 85 per cent of the world’s population having a chance to see the eclipse.
Here’s everything stargazers need to know about the exact time it will appear in the sky and the best place to see it.
What is a Blood Moon?
A “blood moon” refers to the appearance of the moon during a total lunar eclipse.
It takes on a reddish hue due to the refraction of sunlight through Earth’s atmosphere, making it appear as if it’s blood-red in colour.
Incredible video shows how US will mine the MOON to help humans establish new home in space
Astronomer Jake Foster, at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, explains: “When the Earth comes between the sun and the moon, the only sunlight that can reach the moon must first pass through the Earth’s atmosphere.
“As sunlight enters the atmosphere, different wavelengths (and therefore colours) of light will be scattered and bounced around by differing amounts.
“Blue light scatters a great deal, which is why our skies are blue.
“Red light is mostly unaffected by the gases of the atmosphere, so it travels all the way through them and out the other side, where it can shine on the moon, making it appear red.”
What time will I be able to see it?
Scottish stargazers will be able to catch the Blood Moon on Sunday, September 7, and Monday, September 8.
The Moon will rise above the horizon just in time for the total lunar eclipse to be visible.
The maximum phase of the eclipse will technically occur at around 7.11pm while the moon is still below the horizon.
However, it will peak at around 7.33pm, meaning it will be bright in the sky as the sun sets across the country.
The celestial show will continue until 9.55pm as the Moon slowly moves out of Earth’s shadow.
Each individual city will be slightly different, with times across the country varying.
Lunar eclipses explained
Here’s what you need to know…
The Earth is constantly rotating around the Sun, and the Moon is constantly rotating around the Earth.
Sometimes all three can align, placing the Earth directly between the Sun and the Moon in a straight line.
Lunar eclipses typically last just a few hours, and can be viewed from anywhere on the night side of Earth.
Because they’re typically quite dim, it’s also possible to view lunar eclipses without eye protection, which isn’t the case with a solar eclipse.
There are three different types of lunar eclipse:
- Total lunar eclipse – This is where the Moon turns deep red, receiving only light that’s passed through Earth’s atmosphere.
- Penumbral lunar eclipse – This is when the Sun, Moon and Earth fail to form a perfect straight line, so the Moon only travels through the outer part of Earth’s shadow. This means the Moon’s surface is partly darkened.
- Partial lunar eclipse – This is when part of the Moon travels through Earth’s full shadow, which results in part of the Moon being darkened
Where will I be able to see it?
Luckily, these events are easier to spot than almost any other astronomical phenomenon.
As long as it’s not too cloudy, anyone should be able to see it if they look up at the sky.
But there are some good vantage points you can go to if you want the best view of it.
Scots can optimal view from any coastal point, or on a hill or a mountain where there is less light pollution.
When is the next lunar eclipse in the UK?
Anyone who misses the chance to see this lunar event won’t be able to catch another one for the next three years.
The next lunar eclipse isn’t set to happen until December 21, 2028.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
After that, it could be another three years before it graces our skies again.
Scots will need to wait until June 14, 2031, before they can see another lunar eclipse.
The Moon – our closest neighbour explained
- The Moon is a natural satellite – a space-faring body that orbits a planet
- It’s Earth’s only natural satellite, and is the fifth biggest in the Solar System
- The Moon measures 2,158 miles across, roughly 0.27 times the diameter of Earth
- Temperatures on the Moon range from minus 173 degrees Celcius to 260 degrees Celcius
- Experts assumed the Moon was another planet, until Nicolaus Copernicus outlined his theory about our Solar System in 1543
- It was eventually assigned to a “class” after Galileo discovered four moons orbiting Jupiter in 1610
- The Moon is believed to have formed around 4.51billion years ago
- The strength of its gravitational field is about a sixth of Earth’s gravity
- Earth and the Moon have “synchronous rotation”, which means we always see the same side of the Moon – hence the phrase “dark side of the Moon”
- The Moon’s surface is actually dark, but appears bright in the sky due to its reflective ground
- During a solar eclipse, the Moon covers the Sun almost completely. Both objects appear a similar size in the sky because the Sun is both 400 times larger and farther
- The first spacecraft to reach the Moon was in 1959, as part of the Soviet Union’s Lunar program
- The first manned orbital mission was Nasa’s Apollo 8 in 1968
- And the first manned lunar landing was in 1969, as part of the Apollo 11 mission