Irish sky gazers will be able to see spectacular celestial event in the night sky this week

The upcoming total lunar eclipse will be visible in Irish skies on Friday night, 14 March.

People across the country should be able to watch the stunning event unfold between 4am and 6.50am in the early hours of Friday. 

The lunar eclipse, also known as the Blood Moon, will occur as the Earth casts its shadow onto the moon and causing it to turn a blood-red colour. 

As the Earth's shadow creeps over the moon during this period, the moon should be fully covered and visible by 6.30am. 

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For Irish sky gazers, the further north you are the higher the moon will appear above the horizon. To see it, you will need a clear view of the horizon. The moon will eventually dip lower in the sky as the eclipse continues. 

Thankfully, unlike a solar eclipse, it is completely safe to watch the lunar eclipse without protective eye wear. And as Met Éireann has predicted clear skies early in the week, let's hope this remains the case for Friday. 

If you miss this lunar eclipse, you can still catch the partial lunar eclipse at the end of the month on 29 March.