Longest lunar eclipse of century to give UK a rare celestial thrill

Spectacular blood moon will be visible from Friday night until next morning

Britain will witness a spectacular and rare celestial spectacle this week. At dusk on Friday, the full moon will rise and reveal itself coloured a deep red. The nation will then experience a blood moon or, as astronomers term it, a total lunar eclipse.

And this week promises to be a special one, for it will be the longest-lasting total lunar eclipse of the 21st century. After it rises in the south-east - at around 8.50pm in London - the moon's eclipse will continue until early on Saturday. "Weather permitting, it should give Friday evening a special, exciting edge," said Sheila Kanani of the Royal Astronomical Society.