STARGAZERS will have their eyes on the skies to marvel at an astronomical phenomenon.

There will be a total lunar eclipse tomorrow (Monday, January 21).

The moon will be partially eclipsed between 3.35 and 06.51am. with the total eclipse from 4.42 until 5.44am.

Astronomer Peter Williamson will be viewing the eclipse from Whittington Castle, and suggested the Racecourse as another good location.

He said: "You need to have a good, low west horizon – as long as you've got that horizon you'll get the moon pretty well over that.

"In total eclipse the moon should actually turn a rusty red and you'll see stars around it.

"Normally you don't see the stars around the moon as it's so bright, but when it goes red it goes quite dim and you should see stars around it – that's a good photographic opportunity."

Mr Williamson has been an astronomer for more than 50 years, gives talks across Europe and regularly gives school pupils insights into outer space, told how he feels when he sees phenomena such as the eclipse.

"You realise that you've got no control over nature, it happens and there's nothing you can do about it," he said.

"One thing that you do find as well – more often with solar eclipses but with lunar ones as well – if you've got any birds tweeting they shut up, everything goes quiet.

"The whole of nature stops for a while and it's quite an eery feeling, I have to say; makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck."

What causes an eclipse?

AN ECLIPSE happens when the earth passes between the moon and the sun.

When the moon blocks the light from the sun, it casts a shadow onto the surface of the moon.