Shetland Islands named best place to spot lunar eclipse on Saturday

PA

Head off for a break to the Shetland Islands this weekend and you could be in with a chance of seeing Saturday's lunar eclipse.

Experts have said its the best place to witness the celestial spectacle, which will see the satellite turn a brilliant red when the Sun, Earth and Moon fall almost perfectly in line.

Dr Robert Massey, of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), told the Mirror: 'Theoretically the best place in the UK to see the eclipse is in the Shetland Islands but that depends on whether they have good weather and a clear horizon, which can be another stumbling block.

'It will then be just possible to see it, but that is about as good as it gets.'

The total eclipse will begin at 2.06pm and end at 2.58pm, and those living in Lerwick in the Shetland Islands are expected to see moonrise at 2.54pm, so may get to see the red glow.

Although it will only be visible for matter of minutes, Dr Massey said 'eclipses are spectacular and it is certainly worth a bit of time to go and look at it'.

According to the RAS, the best places to view the full lunar eclipse are China, Japan, Korea, eastern Russia, south-east Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the western Pacific.

Other UK locations may see a partial lunar eclipse, providing it's not too cloudy, and the North will have the best sighting opportunities. Further south and west, the Moon rises later in the afternoon and so eclipse-spotters may only catch a glimpse of a partial eclipse, low on the horizon.


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