Thousands to watch rare lunar eclipse

THOUSANDS are expected to look skywards across the country tonight as a total lunar eclipse makes the moon disappear from the sky.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth and moon form a nearly straight line, so that the full moon passes through Earth’s shadow.

According to Astronomy Ireland, there will not be another lunar eclipse until 2010. “The only downside to this particular eclipse will be its timing, occurring in the wee small hours of the morning,” said Dave Grennan of Astronomy and Space magazine.