The moon is set to turn a deep, dark red - sometimes called a "blood moon" - as the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface, for the first time since 2022

A total lunar eclipse "blood moon" should be visible for much of England and Wales on Sunday night and here is the best time to see it.

The moon is set to turn a deep, dark red - sometimes called a "blood moon" - as the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface, for the first time since 2022.

Those gazing upwards across the UK hoping to catch a glimpse will be fortunate as it appears we'll enjoy clear skies across numerous regions.

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Large portions of England and Wales will experience periods without cloud cover throughout the night, providing excellent viewing opportunities, according to the Met Office.

Where skies remain clear, the eclipse will be observable from approximately 7.30pm, reports the Mirror.

Areas of northern England and Scotland will retain cloudier conditions with spells of heavy rainfall continuing into the evening and through the night, resulting in reduced visibility, meteorologists warned.

The eclipse will commence whilst the moon remains beneath the horizon across the UK, meaning it will already be experiencing total eclipse as it appears.

The Met Office advises those eager to witness this spectacle should position themselves somewhere offering the clearest possible view of the eastern horizon, prepared for the lunar eclipse to reach its peak across the UK at 7.33pm.

In urban areas, this may require travelling to elevated ground or a dedicated viewing spot.

The moon will gradually emerge from the Earth's shadow until 9.55pm, giving observers approximately 2 hours and 22 minutes to witness this extraordinary celestial display.

The eclipse can be viewed safely with the naked eye, unlike solar eclipses, as the moon's reflected light poses no danger to eyesight.

Observers in the easternmost regions of Africa, the Middle East, most of Asia and western Australia will witness the complete event from start to finish, whilst those in the UK will only catch the final stages of the eclipse. The Met Office explains that the moon will adopt a reddish appearance as it receives light that has travelled through Earth's atmosphere and been redirected towards the moon through refraction, which scatters blue light whilst permitting red wavelengths to illuminate the Moon.

Dr Ed Bloomer, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, explained that the moon will appear over the UK precisely as the eclipse reaches its conclusion. He commented: "The moon is pretty unmistakable in the sky, so the most important thing is to face the right direction.

"It'll be rising towards the east, and head southwards over the course of the night. As it rises, the most important thing will be whatever is low on your horizon. A flat landscape, or an elevated position makes for the best visibility - literally so there aren't things like buildings, trees, or other things in the way.

"A lunar eclipse like this is a great opportunity for observing with kids too. It isn't too late for us in the UK, the target is nice and easy and minute by minute you will notice changes (good for short attention spans)."

The Royal Observatory Greenwich has stated that the next partial lunar eclipse won't occur until August 2026.