It's almost time to get your binoculars at the ready, as this week looks set to offer some stunning astronomical events to viewers around the world.

On Friday, a lunar eclipse is forecast to appear on a snow moon - a full moon that occurs in February - casting a shadow across the lunar surface.

And just a few hours later, Comet 45P - also known as the New Year comet - will make its closest approach to the Earth.

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During the lunar eclipse, the moon will gradually turn a darker shade of silver, as the Earth's shadow passes over it. Pictured is a composite of a lunar ecipse over Dublin in 2007

WHEN TO SEE IT In Europe, Africa and western Asia, the event will be seen as the moon is in the southern sky late at night, while for those in North, Central and South America, the best views will be from the east. For viewers in the UK, the shadow will first cast over the moon at 22:34 GMT, and will end at 02:53 GMT. And for those in New York, the event will begin at 17:34 ET, and end at 21:53 ET. To check if the lunar eclipse will be visible in your area, you can check the Time and Date site. Comet 45P will then be visible in the morning sky in the constellation Hercules, before passing through the constellations Corona Borealis (the Northern Crown), Boötes (the Herdsman), Canes Venatici (Boötes' hunting dogs) and Ursa Major. Advertisement

An eclipse of the moon occurs when the sun, Earth and moon line up, with Earth in the middle.

This alignment causes the Earth's shadow to fall on the moon, creating a lunar eclipse.

In a penumbral lunar eclipse, only the more diffuse outer shadow of Earth falls on the moon causing a more subtle shadow than a partial or total eclipse.

But provided the sky is free of clouds, the moon will turn a darker shade of silver during the eclipse.

In Europe, Africa and western Asia, the event will be seen as the moon is in the southern sky late at night, while for those in North, Central and South America, the best views will be from the east.

For viewers in the UK, the shadow will first cast over the moon at 22:34 GMT, and will end at 02:53 GMT.

And for those in New York, the event will begin at 17:34 ET, and end at 21:53 ET.

The lunar eclipse will appear on February 10, when the full moon will climb above eastern horizon before undergoing an eclipse as it enters a shadow cast by the Earth. Pictured is a lunar eclipse in 2007

YOUR FEBRUARY CALENDAR February 5 - Moon hides Aldebaran February 8 - Alpha Centaurid meteor shower February 10 - Lunar eclipse February 15 - Moon joins Jupiter February 20/21 - Moon meets Saturn Feburary 26 - Solar eclipse Advertisement

To check if the lunar eclipse will be visible in your area, you can also look at the Time and Date site.

Along with the lunar eclipse, Comet 45P will make its closest approach to Earth this weekend.

In a blog on its website, Nasa said: 'Comet 45P, visible after sunset over the last two months - through both binoculars and telescopes - makes its closest approach to Earth on February 11, when it will be 0.08 Astronomical Units (7.4 million miles) from Earth.

'It'll be visible in the morning sky in the constellation Hercules.

In a penumbral lunar eclipse, only the more diffuse outer shadow of Earth falls on the moon causing a more subtle shadow than a partial or total eclipse. Pictured is a lunar eclipse over Malaysia in 2001

Provided the sky is free of clouds, the moon will turn a darker shade of silver during the eclipse. Pictured is a lunar eclipse over Munich in 2003

'The comet then passes through the constellations Corona Borealis (the Northern Crown), Boötes (the Herdsman), Canes Venatici (Boötes' hunting dogs) and Ursa Major.

'Then on to Leo by the end of February.

'It moves swiftly - 9 degrees each day! It will return again in 2022.'

The comet makes its way back to the inner solar system roughly every 5 years, and has a bright bluish-green 'head.'

It can be difficult to spot with the naked eye, and you may need to use binoculars to spot the comet.