Skygazers await century's longest 'blood moon'

Skywatchers will be treated to the longest "blood moon" eclipse of the 21st Century on Friday.

As it rises, during this total eclipse, Earth's natural satellite will turn a striking shade of red or ruddy brown.

The "totality" period, when light from the Moon is totally obscured, will last for one hour, 43 minutes, BBC News reports.

The eclipse is visible from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, most of Asia and South America and in the UK from around 21:00 to 22:15 BST.

On the same night and over the coming days, Mars will be at its closest point to Earth since 2003 - visible as a "bright red star" where skies are clear.

The Moon will pass right through the centre of the Earth's shadow, at the shadow's widest point.

"This is actually almost as long as a lunar eclipse could be," Prof Tim O'Brien, an astrophysicist at University of
Manchester, explained.

It coincides not only with Mars's close approach, but with what he described as a "procession of planets" - a line-up of our celestial neighbours that will give skywatchers a particularly good view of Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars.