Best time to catch the Blood Moon lighting up UK skies this week – and you don’t need any glasses this time

BRITS are set for another spectacle in the sky this week, with the Blood Moon visible across the UK. Unlike the solar eclipse, you won’t have to source any special viewing glasses this time. A Blood Moon will be visible across the UK this week as a partial lunar eclipse is set to take place Credit: PA Brits hoping to see the spectacle will need to set an alarm as it will occur in the early hours of the morning Credit: Alamy Brits will be able to spot an unusual “Blood Moon” in the UK this week, as a deep partial lunar eclipse takes place. The night-time event comes only a few weeks after the UK witnessed its first solar eclipse in nearly 30 years. Sign up for the Tech newsletter Thank you! A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth lines up directly between the Sun and the Moon, meaning the Moon is hidden from sunlight. This event in particular will be a deep partial eclipse, with up to 96 percent of the Earth-facing side of the Moon covered by the Earth’s shadow. Sometimes, the stunning spectacle can be referred to as a ‘Blood Moon’ as the event can cause the Moon to give off a reddish glow. For anyone hoping to get a glimpse of the Blood Moon this week, you might want to set an alarm. The event will begin at 2.33am, with the Moon beginning to move into the lighter part of the Earth’s shadow. In the UK, the partial eclipse is set to start at 3.33am on Friday, August 28, and will peak at 5.12am. Most read in Tech The Blood Moon will only be visible to those living in the night-time side of Earth, meaning countries including Australia, India, China and Japan, will miss out on this particular spectacle. However, many people across North and South America, as well as parts of Europe and Africa will be able to witness the lunar event. Unlike the solar eclipse, you don’t have to stress about sourcing a pair of special viewing glasses. A lunar eclipse is safe to look at through the naked eye, although you may want to invest in a pair of binoculars or a telescope for even better views. Stargazers hunting for the perfect location to watch the event will need to search for spots with an unobstructed horizon as the Moon will be positioned very low in the sky. It’s also best to escape as much light pollution as possible (so ideally no city centres) to maximise your viewing experience. Unlike during the solar eclipse, the entirety of the British Isles will see the same percentage of the Moon in shadow. The last partial lunar eclipse visible in the UK was in March 2025. Comment now