For observers across the Americas, the eclipse is chiefly a widely visible celestial event; in the UK, the same spectacle comes with a more practical question of whether breaks in cloud will arrive in time.

Much of the Moon is set to turn copper-red as it moves through Earth’s shadow, creating a near-total lunar eclipse visible overnight across the Americas and, more selectively, from Britain.

Accounts on both sides of the Atlantic describe the same basic event: Earth passes between the Sun and Moon, leaving sunlight filtered through the atmosphere to colour the lunar surface red. The difference is in viewing prospects. In North and South America, the eclipse is expected to be visible across large areas, with 96% of the Moon darkened at its peak. It is due to begin at about 9.23pm EST and peak around 10.33pm EST. The event will be a “blood moon”, with the reddish appearance caused by sunlight scattering through Earth’s atmosphere.¹

Britain will see a slightly less extensive, though still deep, partial eclipse. At its maximum at 5.12am BST, roughly 93% of the Moon will be within Earth’s darkest shadow, according to UK reports.² But cloud is expected to make the display uneven: southern and eastern England have the strongest chance of seeing the early stages, while cloud is forecast to become more widespread before the peak.

The Met Office cautioned that “there may not be one location offering ideal conditions throughout the event,” while noting that temporary gaps could still offer brief views elsewhere.³ For UK skywatchers, the advice is therefore to check local forecasts and look early; for much of the Americas, the main challenge may simply be finding a clear view of the sky.