Eyes on the skies, Victoria!
So long as it’s not cloudy, we’ll be treated to a total lunar eclipse on the night of Thursday, March 13th, beginning at around 8:57 p.m., hitting its max at 11:58 p.m.
According to NASA, a lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, earth and moon align so that the moon comes engulfed by the earth’s shadow.
In a total lunar eclipse, like what we’ll be seeing, the whole moon falls within the darkest part of the earth’s shadow, known as the umbra.
Once within the umbra, the moon will appear to have a red-orange glow, which is why lunar eclipses are sometimes called “Blood Moons.”
If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of this incredible phenomenon, you don’t need any special equipment to do so!
Binoculars or a telescope will enhance your view, but a dark environment away from light pollution is all you need.
For March 13th, Environment Canada is currently forecasting a mix of sun and cloud, with cloudier periods during the night—fingers crossed we’ll still be able to see it!
Not sure where to view it from? We suggest Island View Beach, Cattle Point and PKOLS (Mt. Doug).
Happy moon gazing, Victoria!
