DESPITE some gloomy forecasts for cloud, Tuesday's lunar eclipse proved to be a spectacular event, writes JENNIE DENNETT.

At the Furness Astronomical Society's Dalton Observatory opinion was unanimous - it was a "perfect night."

Equipped with, among other things, a 10 inch Newtonian reflector telescope and a few flasks of hot tea, 15 astronomers and enthusiastic amateurs were treated to an eventful night of stargazing.

By 7pm, the clouds had largely drifted away, leaving a clear view of the moon for sky gazers across the region as it moved into the darkest part of the Earth's shadow.

A lunar eclipse takes place when the sun, Earth and moon line up.

An hour and half later, the eclipse had reached totality and the moon took on an eerie red glow - the result of light being reflected onto it through the Earth's atmosphere.

Barrow astronomer Stuart Baines rated the eclipse as one of the best he had experienced.

"For me it is like watching the hands of a giant celestial clock sweeping through the sky.

If you watch closely you can see all the moving parts, giving a feel for our true position in the solar system."

The detailed view of the moon's surface through the telescope was deemed stunning.

"It's always intriguing to see the colours of the moon during an eclipse," enthused astronomer Dr Nick White.

Yet our eclipse was not the only show in the galaxy on Tuesday.

At 8.40pm, IO, one of Jupiter's moons, could be seen as a black spot passing over the huge planet.

l If you missed Tuesday night's lunar show, you will have to wait until November, 2003, for the next full lunar eclipse.