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The moon has turned purple in an occasion generally known as a blood moon following a lunar eclipse – which was seen within the UK simply earlier than daybreak on Friday.
Within the UK, the moon had already set beneath the horizon by the point of the complete lunar eclipse at 6.58am, so solely a partial lunar eclipse was seen and half, fairly than all, of the moon appeared purple.
However the full lunar eclipse was seen to folks in North and South America and spectacular photos had been printed from there.
The lunar eclipse seen above Canary Wharf in London. Pic: PA
The lunar eclipse seen above Surrey Quays in London. Pic: PA
A complete lunar eclipse enters its peak stage Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photograph/Jenny Kane)
The moon turned darkish because it moved into Earth’s shadow and ultimately appeared purple, therefore the “blood moon” nickname.
The solar, Earth, and moon are virtually, fairly than totally, aligned throughout a partial lunar eclipse, making a darkish part on the moon.
A blood moon is a phenomenon that solely occurs a handful of instances a yr. The final whole lunar eclipse was in Might 2022 when the moon turned utterly purple.
A full moon is seen throughout a “Blood Moon” lunar eclipse from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, March 13, 2025. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez
A full moon is seen behind the CN Tower in Toronto. Pic: Reuters
The blood moon seen from Caracas. Pic: Reuters
Astronomer Jake Foster, on the Royal Observatory Greenwich, mentioned: “When the Earth comes between the solar and the moon, the one daylight that may attain the moon should first move by the Earth’s environment.
“As daylight enters the environment, completely different wavelengths (and due to this fact colors) of sunshine might be scattered and bounced round by differing quantities. Blue gentle scatters an ideal deal, which is why our skies are blue.
“Pink gentle is usually unaffected by the gases of the environment, so it travels right through them and out the opposite facet the place it may well shine on the moon, making it seem purple.”
The moon is seen earlier than the lunar eclipse from Mexico Metropolis. Pic: Reuters
The lunar eclipse seen above Studying, Berkshire. Pic: PA
From these watching from the UK, the moon was anticipated to begin to flip purple at round 5.30am and the perfect views would have been simply earlier than 6.30am, in response to astronomers.
No tools was wanted to take a look at it, Mr Foster mentioned.
The whole lunar eclipse enters its peak stage, as seen from Portland, Oregon. Pic: AP
The moon is seen previous to the full lunar eclipse in Lisbon, Portugal. Pic: Reuters
An individual is silhouetted towards the rising full moon within the night sky in Los Angeles. Pic: AP
In keeping with the Royal Astronomical Society, some folks dwelling within the west of the UK might have been capable of see a complete lunar eclipse with the bare eye, climate allowing.
Others in jap and southeastern England are solely anticipated to have the ability to see a partial lunar eclipse. It’s because the moon is not going to be utterly throughout the Earth’s shadow by the point it units.
In keeping with the most recent Met Workplace forecast, a lot of the UK would have been coated by cloud when the eclipse was most seen, other than elements of the South East, East Anglia and central Scotland.
