There will be a blood moon above Stratford-upon-Avon on Friday night.

A rare lunar eclipse – the longest total lunar eclipse of the century so far – will take place in the skies above Stratford on Friday. For close to two hours, the moon will be in total shadow of the earth as the earth sits directly between the sun and the moon.

It’s known as a blood moon for the reddish tinge that appears on our satellite, an effect caused by a diffusion of light wavelengths from the earth.

When does the blood moon in Stratford-upon-Avon take place?

While the partial eclipse begins at 8.30pm, the moonrise above Stratford-upon-Avon takes place at 8.58pm, so you’ll have to wait until then to catch the first glimpse of the blood moon. The good news is that the total eclipse begins at 9.20pm (ends at 10.13pm), so there’s a good chance of seeing the entirety of the lunar eclipse.

The bad news: cloud is currently forecast for Friday night. Fingers crossed we get a clear evening.

The best place to see the blood moon in Stratford-upon-Avon

East Africa, the Middle East and India claim the best viewing, so if you’re stuck in Stratford-upon-Avon you’ll want an uninterrupted south-eastern view, as that is where the moon will rise.

Get as far away from light pollution as you can too.

The Welcombe Hills could be an amazing spot to see the blood moon.

Lunar eclipse watching tips

You don’t need any equipment – the rare astral phenomenon is safe to view with the naked eye. A telescope, however, will give you a great look at the blood moon.

What’s that pinkish-red light in the sky?

That’s Mars – on a close approach to earth and just 35.8million miles away. It’ll be at its brightest between Friday July 27 and Monday July 30.

 

Do you have any tips for watching the blood moon? Any locations (you don’t mind sharing) that would provide the perfect spot? Leave a comment below or start a conversation on social media.