Night sky watchers across the world have been enjoying a “super flower blood moon”, a spectacular phenomenon caused by the May full moon coinciding with both the satellite being at its closest point to the Earth during its orbit – making it appear larger and brighter – and a lunar eclipse causing the moon to turn red as it drifts into our planet’s shadow.
The sight has made for extraordinary photographs from the Western United States to Sydney Harbour but, somewhat typically, amateur astronomers in the UK watching the skies from Stonehenge were left frustrated by heavy cloud cover obscuring their view.
While the supermoon is visible across the world, the partial eclipse will only be viewable in parts of the US, eastern Latin Americas and eastern regions of Russia and Asia, although it will be streamable in the UK this morning.
Totality of lunar eclipse about to begin
The big moment is about to arrive, with moon expected to be in eclipse for around 15 minutes from 12.11pm (GMT) and achieve totality at 12.19pm.
Here are the latest images of its progress, taken in Santa Monica, California, and Sydney, Australia, respectively.
The progression of the eclipse begins with a partial covering of the moon as seen in Santa Monica, California, on Wednesday 26 May 2021
(Frederic J Brown/AFP/Getty)
The progression of the eclipse begins with a partial covering of the moon as seen in Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday 26 May 2021
(Saeed/AFP/Getty)
Joe Sommerlad26 May 2021 12:05
The view from Europe
More pictures you say? Alrighty then.
This is how the supermoon looked over the Czech Republic, Russia, Spain and Turkey last night.
The full moon rising behind the of Basilica of St Peter and St Paul, part of Vysehrad Castle, in Prague, Czech Republic, on Tuesday 25 May 2021
(Michal Cizek/AFP/Getty)
The moon rising behind the palm trees over the Mediterranean Sea, seen from Roca Llisa on the Spanish Island of Ibiza on Tuesday 25 May 2021
(David Gannon/AFP/Getty)
The full moon behind a cross on top of an orthodox church in the city of Rossosh in Voronezh, Russia, on Tuesday 25 May 2021
(Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty)
The full moon seen over the mausoleum of modern Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Ankara, Turkey, on 26 May 2021
(Cagla Gurdogan/Reuters)
Joe Sommerlad26 May 2021 11:40
The view from the Americas (and Australia)
As we await the totality of the lunar eclipse, here are some astonishing shots of the super moon from last night, taken in Brazil, Argentina and the United States.
The moon shines behind Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Wednesday 26 May 2021
(Pinar Olivares/Reuters)
The full moon between the two towers of the National Congress building in Brasilia, Brazil, on Tuesday 25 May 2021
(Joedson Alves/EPA)
The moon soars over the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as the Copa Libertadores match between River Plate and Fluminense gets underway
(Juan Mabromata/Reuters)
The moon peers through low clouds above the city of San Diego, California, on Tuesday 25 May 2021
(Mike Blake/Reuters)
A man fishes in the Missouri River as the full moon rises beyond the skyline of downtown Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday 25 May 2021
(Charlie Riedel/AP)
And here’s a couple of beauts from Sydney because why not?
The moon rises over Sydney Opera House in Australia on Wednesday 26 May 2021
(Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty)
A yacht sails on the horizon as the moon rises in Sydney on Wednesday 26 May 2021
(Mark Baker/AP)
Joe Sommerlad26 May 2021 11:00
The lunar eclipse explained
You might find the following helpful on what we can expect to see (or rather, not see) from the eclipse this morning.
Here are those timings in GMT:
- Penumbral eclipse begins 9.48am
- Umbral eclipse begins 10.45am
- Totality begins 12.11pm
- Greatest eclipse 12.19pm
- Totality ends 12.26pm
- Umbral eclipse ends 1.52pm
- Penumbral eclipse ends 2.50m
Also, here’s a second stream of the event courtesy of Lowell University in Flagstaff, Arizona, which might have better luck with the weather.
Joe Sommerlad26 May 2021 10:20
Stream the lunar eclipse live
The partial eclipse of the moon is due to take place shortly and you can follow a livestream below from Griffith Observatory on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Los Angeles, California.
Joe Sommerlad26 May 2021 09:40
‘Flower moon’ lights up Bristol
While cloud cover was also a frustration in the West Country last night, the unsual brightness of the moon lighting up the night sky is there for all to see in this shot.
The ‘flower moon’ sets over Bristol
(Ben Birchall/PA)
Amateur astronomers were out in force in Bristol to capture the moment.
Meanwhile, this was the scene from the Trooper’s Hill nature reserve to the east of the city overlooking the River Avon.
Joe Sommerlad26 May 2021 09:25
Cloud cover thwarts ‘flower moon’ fans at Stonehenge
While the exquisitely-named “super flower blood moon” may have proven a spectacular sight across the United States, stargazers in the UK were not so lucky last night as cloud cover contrived to obscure the show in some areas.
People who travelled to Stonehenge in Wiltshire in the early hours of the morning could only see part of the larger-than-usual moon, with the rest bathed in cloud.
Stonehenge made for an incredibly atmospheric, even ghostly setting nonetheless.
The ‘flower moon’ sets over Stonehenge on 26 May 2021
(Finnbarr Webster/Getty)
Joe Sommerlad26 May 2021 08:47
How to see the ‘Blood moon’ lunar eclipse
In a rare coincidence, Wednesday’s full moon will be brighter and larger than usual, as well as appear rusty red in colour across some parts of the world due to a total lunar eclipse.
Nasa says people living in western North America, eastern Asia and western South America will have the best view of the “Blood Moon”.
Vishwam Sankaran has more details of the best time to look out for the eclipse depending on where you are in the world:
Adam Withnall26 May 2021 06:25
Where will best place in Washington state to see lunar eclipse?
The National Weather Service in Seattle has told its Twitter followers where the best place for them to catch the Super Flower Blood Moon eclipse will be.
Graeme Massie26 May 2021 05:00
How will weather impact lunar eclipse watching in Seattle?
Forecasters predict if Seattle residents will be able to see Super Flower Blood Moon eclipse.
Graeme Massie26 May 2021 04:08
