The coppery moon was clearly visible across much of Britain
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The eclipse began at 2018 GMT, with the Moon totally immersed in the shadow of the Earth between 2244 and 2358 GMT.
During "totality" the moon appeared reddish in colour, as only light that had been filtered through the Earth's atmosphere reached the Moon's surface.
The eclipse was visible from the whole of Europe, Africa, South America, and eastern parts of the US and Canada.
The coppery red Moon was visible across large areas of the UK thanks to clear skies.
Robin Scagell, from the Society for Popular Astronomy, said that it was "one of the best lunar eclipses from Britain for years".
TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE Occurs when Moon passes into Earth's shadow Penumbra: Region where Earth blocks some (but not all) Sun rays Umbra: Zone where Earth blocks all direct sunlight - total eclipse
"It was fascinating to watch the Moon's graceful movement through the shadow of the Earth and check its coppery glow," he said.
The last total eclipse visible from the UK was back in May 2004, but it was obscured by cloudy skies.
Lunar eclipses occur when the Sun, Earth and Moon are in a near-perfect line in space.
The Moon travels through the long cone-shaped shadow that the Earth casts in space. At totality, the only light reaching the Moon's surface at this point has been refracted through the Earth's atmosphere.
The appearance of the lunar surface varies according to how much dust is in the Earth's upper atmosphere. For example, following major volcanic eruptions, the Moon appears to be a deep red and almost invisible.
As there have not been any recent sizeable eruptions, astronomers had predicted that the Moon would be bathed in a bright orange light.
In Belgium, about 200 people gathered at the Mira observatory in Grimbergen to witness the eclipse.
KEY TIMES FOR ECLIPSE Moon enters penumbra: 2018 Moon enters umbra: 2130 Totality begins: 2244 Mid-eclipse: 2321 Totality ends: 2358 Moon leave umbra: 0111 Moon leaves penumbra: 0224 (All times are in GMT)
"We were especially concerned about whether our equipment would make it through this kind of weather," he said.
"But then, after some clouds, it was all perfect throughout the entire eclipse."
In Tehran, the director of Iran's Amateur Astronomy Association, Amir Shirazi, said he and other astronomy fans would be staying up all night to watch.
"This is the last lunar eclipse in the Iranian current year and we are not going to have another beautiful and complete eclipse like this one for five years," he said.
After Saturday's eclipse, the next to be seen over western Europe will take place on 21 February 2008, but in the middle of the night between 0300 GMT and 0400 GMT.
And though eastern Australia, Alaska and New Zealand missed out on this total lunar eclipse they will be able to see the next one, due to take place on 28 August.
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Graphical illustration of where the eclipse will be visible.Source: NASA, see  here. 
Southampton, U.K.Photo credit:  Rhys400D.
Valladolid, Spain.

There will be a full lunar eclipse starting on Saturday, March 3. Earth's passage between the Sun and the Moon will begin casting its shadow on the surface of the Moon starting at 20:18 UTC. The Moon will be totally eclipsed by the Earth's shadow between 22:44 and 23:58 UTC.

Cloudless conditions would make for a great viewing experience as the Lunar phase is now full. The color of the moon will be like that of copper.

In England, the lunar eclipse will occur between 8:18pm and until 2:24am.

A chart to calculate the time offset from UTC puts the eclipse starting at 3:18pm EST in North America. The moon will be totally eclipsed 21 minutes prior to sunset in that time zone. The moonrise will occur during the period it is eclipsed, at 6:01pm. Viewers will be able to see the moon re-emerge from the Earth's shadow, weather permitting.

The eclipse will take place during the Hindu festival of Holi.


Phases of the lunar eclipse on March, 3rd 2007. View in France.