The Brecon Beacons and the Elan Valley are considered by star gazers and weather forecasters as likely to be among the best spots from which to view tonight’s total lunar eclipse.

The eclipse will be the longest so far this century and provided the skies remain clear it will be best seen from remote hillsides where there is little distracting light from towns and cities.

The total eclipse will last for a 103 minutes and be visible across the whole of Wales. It will begin when the moon rises at 9pm and last until about 10.15pm.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes into the Earth’s shadow known as the umbra.

Because the moon does not generate light itself it is only visible to us when light reflects off it from the Sun.

As the huge shadow moves across the sky, the moon will turn a dark reddy-brown colour.

A total lunar eclipse can also be called a "blood moon" because of the colour it turns in the sky.

The lunar eclipse will also provide one of the best opportunities to view Earth’s closest fellow planet Mars, which will be at its closest point to the Earth since 2003. Because of the eclipse, Mars will appear as a bright red star. Star gazers will be able to see the Red Planet by peering into the sky towards the south and because Mars is so close they will not need a telescope to see it.

It will be possible to see at least part of the eclipse from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, most of Asia and South America.

However, the Brecon Beacons and Elan Valley are probably among the best places to view the lunar eclipse in the United Kingdom, alongside the more remote and highest parts of Snowdonia.

The Brecon Beacons is renowned as one of the best areas to view the stars at night. In 2013 it was awarded International Dark Sky Reserve status – the first time the accolade has been awarded in Wales, making it one of only 12 destinations in the world to be granted such status.