Professor Andrew Coates from UCL told Sky News the lunar eclipse will be the longest of this century and will be visible from most parts of the UK, particularly in the capital.
The Mullard Space Science Laboratory professor explained the potential Blood Moon will be visible in London from 9pm onwards, urging people to look in a south-easterly direction.
Professor Coates said: “It’s the longest one this century,1 hour and 43 minutes all together.
“In fact, we missed the first part of it because moonrise over the UK is already in progress.
“So it’s already going on, it will already be red when the moon rises at around 8.50pm to something like 9.30pm depending on exactly where you are in the UK this evening.
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“From London, for example, look at the sky from about 9pm onwards in a south-easterly direction.”
Asked how red the moon will look, he replied: “It all depends on how much dust there will be in the atmosphere.
“So there are volcanos going on in Hawaii at the moment, and all sorts of other things so we don’t know exactly how dark it will be.
“Blood red is one possibility. Another one is brook red which is a bit less.
“Possibly, also, it might just be completely dark. We don’t really know exactly until the event actually happens.
“But it’s a wonderful event, it happens relatively frequently this type of eclipse, the lunar eclipse.
“In fact, there is another one visible from the UK next January, so we don’t have too long to wait.”
The longest and 17th total lunar eclipse of the century will occur tonight in the night skies, bathing the Moon in an eerie red glow.
Lasting for a staggering one hour and 43 minutes, the total eclipse occurs as the Sun, Moon and Earth perfectly align.
Due to the Earth currently being the furthest away, it can possibly be from the Sun on its rotation, the shadow cast on the Moon will take a long time to pass through.
The light on the Moon is red due to refraction occurring in the Earth’s surface.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth and the Moon line up perfectly.
The Earth will pass between the Sun and the Moon for one hour and 43 minutes this evening.
Most of Europe will see the entire full eclipse apart from the UK, where the Moon is set to be partially visible from 8.49pm BST.
Rain clouds and thunderstorms could obstruct the Moon from the naked eye, especially the first 19 minutes.