A rare celestial event known as a “blood moon” will light up the night sky tonight, March 13. It’s the first total lunar eclipse since 2022, when Earth moves directly between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow over the lunar surface.Professor Don Pollacco from the University of Warwick explained, “The Moon, like all planets, gives out no light of its own, but instead shines by reflecting sunlight.” During a total eclipse, the Earth blocks sunlight from directly hitting the Moon.

On the morning of Friday, March 14 (for those in the UK), the Moon will pass through Earth’s shadow during its orbit. As Pollacco noted, “You might expect it to be invisible, but instead a small amount of sunlight reaches the Moon after passing through the Earth’s atmosphere.”

This filtered light gives the Moon its deep red glow, creating the striking “blood moon” effect that skywatchers look forward to. These total lunar eclipses typically happen every two and a half years.The last time a blood moon was widely observed was on November 8, 2022, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tonight’s event offers a new chance for people around the world to witness this rare phenomenon.