A blood moon occurs during a total lunar eclipse, when the moon moves into the inner part of Earth’s shadow (umbra).

That means only some of the sun’s rays, those with longer wavelengths such as red and orange, can pass through the Earth’s atmosphere to reach the moon, turning it a crimson or copper hue.

This month’s total lunar eclipse blood moon will be visible to more than six billion people worldwide and last longer than the last one in March.

NASA says it will be visible in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Associate Professor Devika Kamath, an astrophysicist at Macquarie University, said viewing conditions were especially favourable for this blood moon.

It is expected to be visible in its entirety from across Australia, with particularly favourable skies expected in the west.

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