People in the U.K. witnessed a rare and exciting celestial event on Friday morning (Blood Moon UK). Just a partial lunar eclipse happened before sunrise., creating an amazing sight in the sky. During the event, the Earth moved between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow over a portion of the moon’s surface. As a result, the moon appeared black before turning a deep red colour, often called a “blood moon.” This amazing change lasted for a short time, allowing early risers to witness a unique and memorable sight in the sky.
What is a Partial Lunar Eclipse?
A partial lunar eclipse happens when the Earth, Sun, and Moon are almost in a straight line. Part of the Moon moves into Earth’s shadow, making a dark section appear. If the shadow covers enough of the Moon, it looks red, which is why some people call it a “Blood Moon.”
The last time a total lunar eclipse happened was in May 2022, when the whole Moon turned red. This time, it was only a partial eclipse, but it was still a beautiful sight.
Where Was It Visible? (Blood Moon UK)
Many people in London and across the UK took photos and shared them on social media. Some lucky skywatchers in western parts of the UK might have seen the Moon almost entirely covered. However, in eastern and southeastern England, people could only see a small part of the eclipse.
Why Does the Moon Turn Red?
Astronomer Jake Foster from the Royal Observatory Greenwich explained the science behind this event.
“When the Earth obstructs direct sunlight, only a portion of the light reaches the Moon,” he explained. “Before illuminating the Moon, this light travels through the Earth’s atmosphere, which alters its colour and intensity.” Blue light is scattered, but red light passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, making the moon appear red.”
This is the same reason sunsets and sunrises often look red or orange. (Blood Moon UK)
Best Time and Place to See It
The eclipse started around 5:30 AM and was easiest to see just before 6:30 AM. Experts said the best place to watch was somewhere with a clear view to the west, away from tall buildings or trees.
People didn’t need any special equipment to enjoy the view, but a pair of binoculars clarified the sight.
A Rare Cosmic Event (Blood Moon UK)
The Royal Astronomical Society said this was a rare event for the UK. Even though it wasn’t a total eclipse, it was still a special moment for skywatchers. Many people were excited to see the Moon change colour, even for a short time.
Did you see the Blood Moon? If not, don’t worry! There will be more eclipses in the future, so keep an eye on the night sky. (Blood Moon UK)
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