Blue moon mania! Ultra rare blue moon takes to skies tonight

A very infrequent astronomical event is happening tonight - a blue moon.
The Blue Moon over the UK's skies tonight (Picture:PA)The Blue Moon over the UK's skies tonight (Picture:PA)
The Blue Moon over the UK's skies tonight (Picture:PA)

The nation’s eyes will be on the sky this evening as a mega-rare so-called ‘blue moon’ - which according to common sayings doesn’t happen very often - shines down.

People across South Yorkshire, Sheffield, Derbyshire and North Lincolnshire will be able to see the event overhead.

It is the first time it has happened since 2012 and will not happen again until 2018.

The event isn’t actually named for the colour - the moon appears white as normal - but the name is given to the second full moon in the same calendar month.

A lunar month lasts about 29.5 days, whilst calendar months last between 28 and 31 days.

Occasionally, this means that a full moon can be seen twice in a month - this is referred to as a blue moon.

*If you see the blue moon, tweet in your photos!