Millions are being captivated by a rare total lunar eclipse that is rising around the world tonight.

Sky watchers are amazed as the full moon turns red, known as a ‘Blood Moon’.

During a total lunar eclipse, Earth lines up between the moon and the sun, hiding the moon from sunlight.

As a result, the moon will turn a deep, dark red – hence the ‘blood moon’ title.

In the UK, the lunar eclipse will reach its peak at 19:33 BST, but people will only be able to see it after the moon rises.

As the moon will be low on the horizon, it might be quite difficult to see.

The Met Office recommends to boost your chances of a good sighting, try to find a high point with a clear view to the east to make the most of this eclipse.

In built-up areas like London, it is advised going to te top of a hill or popular viewing spots. 

Millions are being captivated by a rare total lunar eclipse that is rising around the world tonight. Pictured over Islamabad, Pakistan

The full moon, known as the ‘Blood Moon’ for its red hue during a lunar eclipse, is seen rising behind the statue of Athena in Athens, Greece

The ‘Blood Moon’ is seen over the roof of Yongdingmen Gate on the night of a total lunar eclipse in Beijing, China

A partial lunar eclipse is seen in the sky above a Turkish flag waving on the illuminated Ankara Castle in Ankara, Turkiye

During a total lunar eclipse, Earth lines up between the moon and the sun, hiding the moon from sunlight. As a result, the moon will turn a deep, dark red – hence the ‘blood moon’ title

However, you don’t have long to catch it, with the rare alignment ending less than three hours later, at 21:55 BST as the moon slowly moves out of the Earth’s shadow.

It takes place when the Earth lies directly between the sun and the moon, and the moon is in the shadow of Earth.

For a total lunar eclipse to happen, all three bodies must lie in a straight line.

‘When this happens, the only light that reaches the moon’s surface is from the edges of the Earth’s atmosphere,’ Royal Museums Greenwich explained.

‘The air molecules from Earth’s atmosphere scatter out most of the blue light.

‘The remaining light reflects onto the moon’s surface with a red glow, making the moon appear red in the night sky.’

For this lunar eclipse, the moon will rise above the horizon just in time to see the event from the UK.

Unlike a solar eclipse, it is safe to look at directly as the moon’s reflected light is not as bright.

The partial lunar eclipse seen in Jerusalem

Partial lunar eclipse as the moon raises over residential buildings in Saint Petersburg, Russia

It takes place when the Earth lies directly between the sun and the moon, and the moon is in the shadow of Earth. Pictured: the rare event in Doha, Qatar

The red full moon also seen in Sinop, Turkiye

It is illuminated by light that has passed through the Earth’s atmosphere and has been bent back towards the Moon by refraction, scattering blue light and allowing red wavelengths to reach the Moon.

Much of England and Wales will see clear spells into the night, so should have good viewing conditions, the Met Office said.

But parts of northern England and Scotland will hold on to cloudier skies and outbreaks of heavy rain into the evening and overnight, so there is likely to be poorer visibility, the forecaster added.

Dr Ed Bloomer, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said the Moon will rise over the UK just in time for people to see the tail end of the eclipse.

‘The Moon is pretty unmistakable in the sky, so the most important thing is to face the right direction,’ Dr Bloomer said.

‘It’ll be rising towards the east, and head southwards over the course of the night.

‘As it rises, the most important thing will be whatever is low on your horizon. A flat landscape, or an elevated position makes for the best visibility – literally so there aren’t things like buildings, trees, or other things in the way.

‘A lunar eclipse like this is a great opportunity for observing with kids too. It isn’t too late for us in the UK, the target is nice and easy and minute by minute you will notice changes (good for short attention spans).’

The Royal Observatory Greenwich said the next partial lunar eclipse will not be until August 2026.

WHAT IS A LUNAR ECLIPSE?

An eclipse occurs any time a planet or moon passes between another planet, moon or the sun.

Depending on their orbits, they can be total or partial.

A lunar eclipse is a specific event which happens when Earth lines up directly between the sun and the moon.

When this happens, Earth blocks the light from the sun to the moon. Earth’s shadow then falls on the moon.

During a lunar eclipse, we can see Earth’s shadow on the moon.

They can last for several hours, but it is rare for a period of total eclipse to last longer than 100 minutes.  

At least two lunar eclipses happen every year.

The moon will also be slightly closer to the Earth, causing it to appear brighter than usual, dubbed a Super Moon. These unique factors, when combined, result in a ‘Super Blood Wolf Moon’. This graphic shows how a lunar eclipse occurs