Totality returns to THE MOON

If you missed July’s total lunar eclipse you’ll get another chance to observe this beautiful spectacle on 21 January.

This time the position of the lunar disc in UK skies at the time of the eclipse will be much more favourable, meaning that, if the clouds stay away, we’ll be able to watch totality from start to finish. The eclipse gets underway when the Moon enters the Earth’s penumbral shadow at 02:36 UT and totality – when the lunar disc is completely immersed in the darker umbral shadow – begins at 04:41 UT.

Totality will see the Moon’s disc tinted a striking coppery red and many fainter stars will become visible as our nearest neighbour’s light is dimmed considerably. Imagers may find a pleasing wide-field composition in the pairing of the totally eclipsed Moon and the Beehive Cluster (M44), which will be around 7° apart. Totality finishes at 05:43 UT and at 07:48 UT the Moon will slip fully out of Earth’s penumbra, bringing an end to the eclipse.