Skywatchers will be treated to the longest "blood moon" eclipse of the 21st Century on Friday.
As it rises, during this total eclipse, Earth's natural satellite will turn a striking shade of red or ruddy brown.
The "totality" period, when light from the Moon is totally obscured, will last for one hour, 43 minutes.
At least part of the eclipse is visible from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, most of Asia and South America.
In the UK, rain clouds permitting, the Moon will appear entirely red - fully eclipsed by Earth - from when it rises at 21:00 to 22:15 BST.
On the same night and over the coming days, Mars will be at its closest point to Earth since 2003 - visible as a "bright red star" where skies are clear.
Why will the eclipse last so long?
The Moon will pass right through the centre of the Earth's shadow, at the shadow's widest point.
"This is actually almost as long as a lunar eclipse could be," Prof Tim O'Brien, an astrophysicist at University of Manchester, explained.
It coincides not only with Mars's close approach, but with what he described as a "procession of planets" - a line-up of our celestial neighbours that will give skywatchers a particularly good view of Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars.
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