A partial lunar eclipse is coming to our skies for a night-time spectacle and avid sky watchers can see it this month.
This is the second lunar eclipse of the year. The first one took place on March 25 but it was only visible from North and South America.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about catching a glimpse of this wonder in the coming days.
What is a partial lunar eclipse?
Lunar eclipses happen when the Earth passes between the Sun and the moon, and casts a shadow.
The moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing it to be darkened. Such alignment occurs during an eclipse season, approximately every six months, during the full moon phase, when the moon's orbital plane is closest to the plane of the Earth's orbit.
A partial eclipse is when just a portion of the moon passes through this shadow.
When and what time is the partial eclipse in the UK happening?
The partial eclipse is coming on Wednesday September 18. The moon will enter Earth’s penumbra at 1.41am BST and leave at 5.47am. The maximum of this eclipse will occur at 3.44am BST, with only 3.5 per cent of the moon in Earth’s umbra at this point.
On the same day the next full moon, known as the Harvest Moon, will also be visible.
The moon orbits the Earth roughly once every 29.5 days, during which time a full moon occurs.
How best to see it and take pictures of the eclipse
A telescope or a camera is your best chance of a good view of the eclipse, say experts.
An eclipse is often seen from Earth as colours, and these can even be picked up by smartphones if they can be kept stable and straight.
An expert from space.com said: "When it comes to choosing cameras and lenses there are a few important points to consider. Firstly, a top-end expensive camera is not necessary to achieve excellent results. It would be better to spend less on the camera body and more on purchasing high-quality lenses, since image sharpness and good color correction are crucial for top-quality results."
