A LUNAR ECLIPSE will take place tonight, but you may struggle to see it.

The ‘deep partial eclipse’ runs from 8pm to 9.30pm and, while it could be visible from all counties, those in the east of the country will have a slightly better chance of catching a glimpse.

Although the eclipse will start when the Moon is still below the horizon in Ireland, Irish astronomy enthusiasts should be able to catch the second half of the show.

The sun will only be setting at that time, so the sky will still be quite bright, making it more difficult to see.

It’s only a partial eclipse, so it will look different to a full eclipse. The Moon will appear to have a ‘bite’ taken out of it. 

This event is also known as a ‘Blood Moon’ because the shadow of the Earth gives it a red colour.

David Moore from Astronomy Ireland said we’ll “probably” be able to see this redness. He said that while the naked eye can spot an eclipse like this, a pair of binoculars would make for much easier viewing.

If you’re hoping to see it, your best bet is to go east to somewhere with clear weather.

In general though, Ireland isn’t the best spot to see the eclipse. Asia, eastern Africa, and western Australia will have the best vantage points.

There will not be a total eclipse of the Moon visible from Ireland until New Year’s Eve 2028.