Eclipse 2018 live pictures: Best Blood Moon photos from lunar eclipse TODAY

The lunar officially kicked off at 5.14pm Universal Time (UT) tonight when the Moon entered the Earth’s faint penumbral shadow.

The first stage of the eclipse, the penumbral eclipse, is relatively faint but signals better things to come in the next two hours.

At 6.24pmUT the partial eclipse will begin, when the Earth’s darker shadow, the umbra, bites into the glowing face of the Moon.

By 7.30pmUT the real spectacle will kick off when the total eclipse begins and the Moon takes on a deep red to orange hue.

Follow Express.co.uk here for the latest lunar eclipse Blood Moon photos as the moon sails across the night sky.

When the full Moon passed into the Earth’s umbra, the Blood Moon took on a deep and ominous red glow.

But not everyone around the world got to enjoy the lunar spectacle tonight and poor weather conditions around the UK have caused a lot of grief for hopeful moon-gazers.

Matthew Wright, @MatthewW191, tweeted: “England, where we want rain and we don’t get it.

“But when there’s a Blood Moon and lunar eclipse we get it.”

Andy Kenyon, @Noynek, said: “Typical. Here in the UK we’ve had no rain for weeks and the precise day and time we get it is during the eclipse.”

Another person, Raj @rajdeepuk, posted: “Can anyone in the UK actually see the moon visibly? I’m always in the wrong places for these eclipses.”

Eclipse 2018: Blood Moon eclipse in UK

Eclipse 2018: The Blood Moon in the UK is obscured by cloudy skies and rain (Image: TWITTER)

The partial, or umbral, phase of the eclipse has began at 7.24pm BST when the Moon entered the Earth’s darkest shadow.

The umbral eclipse looked like a black disc passing in front of the face of the glowing Moon.

Once the Moon completely vanished into the umbra totality started and the Moon took on the red glow.

The red glow of the Moon comes from refracted sunlight scattered around the edges of the Earth’s dusty atmosphere.

Eclipse 2018: Blood Moon taking shape

Eclipse 2018: The Blood Moon is slowly taking shape, as seen from Australia (Image: JONATHAN BRADSHAW/SLOOH)

Eclipse 2018: partial eclipse in Australia

Eclipse 2018: The full Moon has entered the umbra and is partially eclipsed in Australia (Image: SLOOH)

Ahead of totality, hundreds of thousands of moon-gazers in the nightside of Earth have gathered to welcome the Blood Moon.

Keen astronomers were spotted along the Hong Kong bay in Tsim Sha Tsui, pointing their telescopes at the phenomenon.

The brilliantly lit full Moon was already spotted over Natanya, Israel, and was photographed behind the spires of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

A large full Moon was photographed over the Palestinian village of Umm Tuba, next to the large Jewish settlement of Har Homa on the southern outskirts of Jerusalem.

A photo of the full Moon captured the glowing orb in between olive trees with the mountains bordering Jordan in the Jordan valley in the background.

It’s the longest eclipse this century

Andrew Coates, Astronomer

The Moon was also snapped rising over the horizon in Nairobi, Kenya, where the total eclipse will start at 10.30pm local time.

The streets of Taiwan were bustling this evening with amateur astronomers and intrigued locals who noticed the fully lit Moon.

Hundreds armed with binoculars and telescopes took to the National Dr Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall where they could catch a good view of the eclipsing moon.

Eclipse 2018: Blood Moon over China

Eclipse 2018: The July full Moon heading towards eclipse over Hong Kong (Image: AFP/GETTY)

Eclipse 2018: Blood Moon near Athens

Eclipse 2018: This photo of the Moon was taken in Greece, near Athens (Image: REUTERS)

Adults, children and the elderly alike were all photographed in the streets gazing at the night skies through their equipment.

In Greece, an incredibly large Moon was snapped against the ancient ruins of the Temple of Poseidon, Cape Sounion, near Athens.

Elsewhere, a breathtaking photograph of the full moon over Australia was snapped at the popular Bondi Beach resort.

At its reddest, the Blood Moon will last a staggering one hour and 43 minutes – the longest total lunar eclipse of the century.

Eclipse 2018: Full Moon Blood Moon

Eclipse 2018: The Full Moon over the the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE (Image: REUTERS)

Eclipse 2018: Blood Moon pictures

Eclipse 2018: The Moon snapped over Cairo, Egypt (Image: AFP/GETTY)

Unfortunately, the eclipse will not be visible everywhere around the globe tonight.

The eclipse is mainly visible today from the Eastern Hemisphere, focusing over the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and East Coast of Africa.

You can  by clicking here.

In the UK, the Blood Moon eclipse will not be visible until after moonrise sometime around 8.50pm BST.

Eclipse 2018: Blood Moon over Israel

Eclipse 2018: The full Moon snapped over Israel before partial eclipsing starts (Image: EPA)

Eclipse 2018: July Blood Moon

Eclipse 2018: The Full Moon behind the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi (Image: REUTERS)

Astronomer Andrew Coates said: “It’s the longest eclipse this century, so one hour and 43 minutes all together but in fact, we missed the first part of it because moonrise over the UK is after the eclipse is already in progress.

“So it is already going on, it will already be red when the Moon rises at 8.50pm to 9.30pm, depending on where exactly you are in the UK this evening.

“From London for example, look at the sky from 9pm onwards in a southeasterly direction.”

In London, astronomy enthusiasts have been invited to participate in the Flamsteed Astronomy Society moon-gazing at Blackheath in London.

Eclipse 2018 Blood Moon eclipse

Eclipse 2018: Blood Moon enthusiasts gathered in Taiwan to see the eclipse (Image: GETTY)

Eclipse 2018: Blood Moon in Singapore

Eclipse 2018: Blood Moon observers have gathered in Singapore (Image: REUTERS)

The astronomical society said: “We will be running an observing session at Blackheath from 9pm until around 11pm.

“In Greenwich, the Moon will rise at 8.48pm, so will already be in full eclipse at the start of the event.

“It will be relatively low in the sky but will climb to around 9 degrees altitude by the end of the full eclipse.

“Weather permitting, it should still be a sight worth seeing.”

Despite the view in the UK being disappointing for many, space watchers in Europe have been treated to some beautiful views of the blood moon.

Stargazers in Bulgaria and Greece were treated to beautiful views such as these.

eclipse 2018 blood moon bulgaria

The blood moon as viewed in Bulgaria (Image: GETTY )

eclipse 2018 blood moon greece

The moon seen in Greece (Image: GETTY )

Stargazers down under were also given a treat. 

These images from Sydney, Australia, show the Blood Moon shining over the world-famous Opera House. 

eclipse 2018 blood moon

(Image: GETTY )

eclipse 2018 blood moon

(Image: GETTY )