The moon is set to blush in shades of red and pink during a partial lunar eclipse next month. The UK night sky will be adorned with a rare ‘Blood Moon’ as our natural satellite drifts into the Earth’s shadow, an event eagerly anticipated by astronomy enthusiasts.

During a lunar eclipse, the Sun, Earth, and Moon align perfectly, causing the Moon to slip out of direct sunlight and into the Earth’s umbra. This alignment bathes the Moon in a dramatic palette of pink, red, and orange hues, creating the mesmerising Blood Moon effect.

The Moon, usually a beacon of white light against the dark canvas of space, will undergo a transformation as Earth’s atmosphere scatters sunlight onto its surface. NASA explains this phenomenon by saying it is like ‘all the world’s sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the Moon’.

UK residents should look to the skies next month for a glimpse of the partial lunar eclipse. While those in the US, Canada, and South America will enjoy a total lunar eclipse, Brits can still catch the penumbral phase, where the Earth’s faint outer shadow kisses the Moon, reports the Manchester Evening News.

To witness the lunar eclipse, UK observers should set their sights on the heavens on March 14, 2025. Visibility will vary globally, with North and South America privy to the full display, but even from the UK, the initial penumbral shading will be visible.

The Royal Observatory has stated that the Moon will first move into the Earth’s outer shadow at 3.57am UK time. The best time to see the eclipse from the UK is around 6.19am.

However, the Moon will have sadly set below the horizon by the time the eclipse reaches its maximum at 6.58am. The partial lunar eclipse will be visible to the naked eye, so no special equipment is needed.

For the best chances of seeing the orange-red lunar orb, find a location with minimal light pollution with a clear view of the western sky. According to NASA, for some parts of the world, the lunar eclipse will begin on March 13 and follow specific phases.

According to the tracking website Time and Date, only one in 10 people around the world will see the entire eclipse from start to finish. The UK will then be treated to a partial solar eclipse later in the month, on March 29, 2025.

Skywatchers across the UK could be in for a treat with a total lunar eclipse on September 7, 2025. The Moon will rise just in time for us to see its totality phase, although it might be tricky to spot due to its low position on the horizon.

The peak of this celestial event is expected at 7.33pm BST. After this, the next partial lunar eclipse will not grace our skies until August 28, 2026, according to the Royal Observatory.

The year 2025 is set to host four eclipses, two solar and two lunar, but not all will be visible from the UK. Time and Date lists the upcoming eclipses as follows:

March 13-14 – Total lunar eclipse

March 29 – Partial solar eclipse

September 7-8 – Total lunar eclipse

September 21 – Partial solar eclipse

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