Stargazers across the UK gathered on Sunday evening to witness a spectacular celestial event — a total lunar eclipse, commonly known as a “Blood Moon.”

For the first time since 2022, the moon turned a deep red as Earth moved directly between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. The phenomenon, which lasted for several hours, drew large crowds to open spaces and observatories across the country.

According to the Met Office, the reddish glow is caused by light passing through Earth’s atmosphere. As the atmosphere scatters shorter blue wavelengths, red wavelengths bend and reflect onto the moon, creating the striking hue that gives the eclipse its “Blood Moon” name.

Astronomy groups described the event as a rare opportunity for the public to connect with the wonders of space, with many capturing the moment in photographs shared widely online.