Wanganui stargazers are preparing themselves for a spectacular lunar eclipse tomorrow night - as long as the weather comes to the party.
Mark Lee, secretary of the Wanganui Astronomical Society, said the eclipse would be noticeable from about 10.20pm and would reach full eclipse just before 11.30pm. The Moon will stay in full eclipse for nearly an hour.
Mr Lee said a full lunar eclipse happens when the Earth's shadow passes across the Moon.
"The Moon doesn't disappear - it turns red, which is why it's often called a blood moon."
Blood moons were graded according to how red the Moon becomes during the eclipse, which can be anything from a light pinkish colour to a rich brick-red. The colour variation is caused by the distance between the Earth and the Moon at the time of the eclipse, Mr Lee said.