Stargazers will have the opportunity to witness a stunning partial lunar eclipse on Wednesday, as the Earth’s shadow partially covers the moon, creating a celestial display worth staying up for.
As this rare event unfolds, stargazers and night sky enthusiasts will want to ensure they have the best possible view.
To help you capture every moment of this lunar spectacle, the experts at Giants Causeway Tour have revealed the best time and places to see it.
What is a partial lunar eclipse?
A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves between the sun and the moon, but they are not perfectly aligned.
As a result, only a portion of the moon passes through the Earth’s umbra, the central and darkest part of its shadow.
The rest of the moon remains in the ‘penumbra’, the lighter outer part of the shadow, meaning it is still fully illuminated by the sun.
During a partial lunar eclipse, the shadowed part of the moon appears darkened, while the rest remains bright. Unlike a total lunar eclipse, where the entire moon enters the Earth’s umbra and often takes on a reddish colour, a partial eclipse only darkens part of the moon’s surface, creating a striking visual contrast.
The visibility of a partial lunar eclipse depends on your location on Earth, with the best views typically occurring where the Moon is high in the sky at the time of the eclipse.
Luckily for Belfastians, they will get a fantastic view of the partial eclipse on the night of Wednesday 18, September this year.
Where is the best place to see the partial eclipse?
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Divis and the Black Mountain, Belfast
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Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne, County Londonderry
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Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim
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Gortin Glen, County Tyrone
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Torr Head, County Antrim
When is the best time to see the partial eclipse?
The eclipse will be visible in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Arctic, and Antarctica. Timings vary by region, but the best time to see it in the UK is between the hours of 01:41 am and 05:47 am.
To get the best view of the eclipse, find a dark spot and aim to view the spectacle between 03:12 am and 04:15 am, with the maximum eclipse appearing at 03:44 am across the United Kingdom.
