IT is a spectacular celestial event eagerly anticipated by stargazers - or a sign of impending global chaos, according to the doom-mongers of the world.

In the early hours of Monday morning, a ‘blood moon’ is expected to be visible in Scotland as a dramatic lunar eclipse takes place.

For the first time in 33 years the lunar eclipse – when the moon passes behind the earth into its shadow - will also coincide with a supermoon, which appears slightly bigger and brighter in the night sky.

Astronomer Steve Owens, planetarium manager at Glasgow Science Centre, said February 2008 was the last time a total lunar eclipse was visible in the UK.

But he added: “The supermoon is an added factor, which makes it an even rarer occurrence.

“A supermoon occurs when the full moon happens at the point in the orbit when the moon is closest to us.

“So this moon is a full moon, a lunar eclipse and the closest approach of the moon in this cycle.

“Those things combined make it relatively rare – the last time it happened was 33 years ago and it is not going to happen again for another 18 years.”

For those will memories of struggling with kitchen colanders and special glasses to try to safely view eclipses of the sun, the good news is this celestial event will be visible to the naked eye – subject to weather conditions.

The eclipse will begin at 1.11am and end at 6.22am and in clear skies it should be visible even in light-polluted cities.

Unlike solar eclipses, which can last just a few minutes, the most dramatic part will be visible for more than an hour between 3.11am and 4.23am.

Owens, who is hoping to view the eclipse from his own back garden, said: “During that hour and 12 minutes it should be blood red moon and dramatic.

“It is hard to predict what colour it will go or how dark it will get - in some cases of lunar eclipses, the moon can go so dark it almost vanishes, while in other cases you get a very coppery tinge to it.

“But it will certainly be a dramatic display whatever happens.”

He added: “If you want to see it, set your alarm for 2am in the morning, check the forecast and if it is possibly clear certainly stay up and see it – or if you have got an opportunity to head somewhere further afield or with clearer skies then certainly do that.”

The supermoon eclipse has prompted prophecies of doom and the end of the world. Adding fuel to the theories is the fact the dramatic blood moon is part of a pattern of four lunar eclipses - known as the lunar tetrad.

The first occurred in 2014 and this is the last to take place in the tetrad, with each eclipse taking place about six months apart.

Books have been written claiming they are celestial signals which will fulfil biblical prophecies of the apocalypse.

Owens said the doom-mongering had been particularly ramped up as this lunar eclipse combined with a supermoon.

He said: “You get soothsayers coming out all the time saying supermoons are going to cause global earthquakes and pandemonium - it certainly doesn’t.

“The moon gets this close to us every month - supermoons are just when it coincides with the full moon, so it has no real physical effect.

“Lunar eclipses have no physical effect, it is just a spectacular sight.”

He added: “Perhaps in ancient times before we developed scientific understanding of the universe, maybe there were signs and portents people would have read into them - we understand the universe much better now.

“Before we had this understanding I’m sure it would have been a terrifying sight to be standing outside and suddenly see the moon being plunged into darkness or turning dark red.”