It’s another “super moon” month, but this time we get an extra treat: a lunar eclipse.
The lunar eclipse — which takes place tonight during the Harvest Moon — will be visible right across Canada, and occurs when the moon is closest in its monthly orbit, making it a “super moon” of an eclipse. Though likely not that perceptible to us, the moon will appear roughly 13 per cent larger in the sky.
Lisa McIntosh, director of learning for the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, says clear skies in Metro Vancouver and other parts of the province should offer a good view of the super moon.
McIntosh says the moon is set to rise just before 7 p.m. although the full eclipse won’t happen until later.
“The entire moon will be shadowed at about 7:47, then the eclipse will pass through and you’ll see the moon returning to its normal look,” she said.
For those looking for a close-up view of the super moon eclipse, the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre will keep its observatory open until 10:30 p.m. and they will also have a large, portable telescope on the edge of their property. Prior to the eclipse, they will host a show in the planetarium about lunar eclipses.
SFU’s Trottier Observatory will also be hosting a viewing party.
But if you don’t want to head out to a public event, you can easily enjoy it at home. And you don’t need anything but your two eyes to enjoy it (though a chair might make it a bit more comfortable).
Unlike a solar eclipse, watching a lunar eclipse is safe. That’s because the moon is passing into Earth’s shadow. Another great thing about a lunar eclipse as opposed to a solar eclipse: you can walk out several times and catch the eclipse in various stages over hours.
For those who can’t attend those events, McIntosh recommends finding a comfortable spot that offers a “sightline towards the east as close to the horizon as possible.”
If you don’t have clear skies, NASA will be broadcasting the eclipse on its Ustream Marshall Space Flight Center channel.
So try to get out there if the weather allows it. The next total lunar eclipse for Canada won’t come until Jan. 31, 2018. And the next super moon eclipse won’t occur again until 2033.
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