Blood Moon This Friday: Exact Timings & Best Viewing Spots in Bristol

Published On: August 25th, 2026

If you caught the stargazing bug during the solar eclipse earlier this August, Bristol’s skies have one more celestial encore in store. A striking Blood Moon will bathe the city in copper-red tones this Friday evening, offering stargazers across the South West another spectacular astronomical display.

During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth aligns directly between the sun and the moon. As sunlight filters through Earth’s atmosphere, blue light scatters, bending warmer crimson hues onto the lunar surface in an effect known as Rayleigh scattering.

Key Timings for Bristol Stargazers

Visibility will depend on clear skies, but here is when to look up on Friday night (28 August):

8:15 PM – Moonrise: The moon emerges low along the east-southeast horizon.
8:45 PM – Partial Eclipse Begins: Earth’s shadow visibly creeps across the lunar surface.
9:30 PM to 10:45 PM – Peak Totality: The full “Blood Moon” phase, when the moon takes on its deepest coppery red glow.
Midnight Onward – Eclipse Concludes: The moon returns to full illumination as it climbs higher into the southern sky.

Best Vantage Points Across Bristol

For optimal viewing away from heavy street lighting and glare, head to these elevated local viewpoints:

Clifton Downs & Observatory: Wide, unobstructed views over the Avon Gorge with vast eastern horizons.
Troopers Hill Nature Reserve (St George): A premier dark-sky spot in East Bristol offering panoramic views across the city skyline.
Brandon Hill & Cabot Tower: Centrally located and elevated enough to escape ground-level light pollution.
Dundry Hill: Just south of the city, this vantage point offers an expansive rural panorama with minimal ambient light.

No specialist equipment is required to enjoy the spectacle, though binoculars will bring out fine surface detail. Pack a warm layer, check the Met Office forecast before heading out, and give your eyes 15 minutes to adjust to the dark.

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