Blood Moon 2018: Is the July blood moon the same as the strawberry moon 2018?
THE next blood moon of 2018 will turn skies crimson in a spectacular lunar eclipse - but is a blood moon the same thing as a strawberry moon?
Mysterious bright object flies past Super Blue Blood Moon
Get ready skywatchers, because the next lunar eclipse of this year is going to be the longest one of the 21st century.
The next blood moon is on Friday, July 27 and viewing conditions for the UK are expected to be ideal to catch a glimpse.
Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America are all expected to get a good view of the event - although the USA will sadly miss out.
The incredible celestial event will last a whopping one hour and 43 minutes.
Is the July blood moon the same as the strawberry moon 2018?
The forthcoming blood moon is not until next month but another unrelated lunar display is happening first on June 28 - the strawberry moon.
Thursday’s night-time display is the seventh of 13 full moons in 2018 and gets its name from the start of the fruit’s harvesting season in the USA.
This particular moon only coincides with the summer solstice, which has just taken place in the Northern Hemisphere, every 20 years.
NASA says the full moon will be visible at 5.53am BST.
What is a blood moon?
Blood moons get their name from the crimson glow they give off during a total lunar eclipse.
The light does not come from the moon directly but is a refraction of the earth’s shadow as it moves between the moon and the Sun.
The reddish tinge is caused by Rayleigh scattering.
Colours along shorter wavelengths, such as violent, cannot penetrate through under the phenomenon.
Reds and oranges, which have longer wavelengths, can pass through the Earth’s atmosphere .
The light is then bent around the Earth before it hits the moon, giving it its striking colour.
How to watch the Strawberry Moon
Thursday’s full moon should be prominent in the UK as we are the grip of a heatwave with clear skies.
To be on the safe side, and to avoid light pollution spoiling the glow, head for the nearest dark spot outside of the city.
How to watch the blood moon
UK residents are also set to get an excellent chance of spotting the blood moon on July 27.
The maximum viewing time is at 9.21pm BST but the whole spectacle should last around four hours giving people plenty of viewing opportunities.
Moonrise will be 8.50pm with the full eclipse finishing at 12.28am.
If you are not able to see the blood moon rising outside, catch a live stream of the eclipse on timeanddate.com.