Stargazers will be able to witness a total lunar eclipse next week.
According to ‘The Backyard Astronomer’ Gary Boyle, on the night of March 13 and into the morning of March 14, the Full Worm Moon slides into the Earth’s shadow, producing a spectacular total lunar eclipse.
“The orange tint on the moon’s surface during totality is refracted sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere, much like we see beautiful red sunsets,” notes Boyle.
In Alberta, the event will begin at 11:09 p.m. on March 13, with mid-eclipse at 12:58 a.m. March 14, and then ending at 2:47 a.m. that morning.
“The moon will move into the Earth’s shadow for about three-and-a-half hours. It’ll be a beautiful total lunar eclipse and very safe to look at, as the moon will turn orange due to the sunlight refracting or bending through Earth’s atmosphere,” Boyle explains.
Boyle is an astronomy educator, guest speaker and former monthly columnist. The International Astronomical Union has also honoured him with the naming of Asteroid (22406) Garyboyle. He says that typically, there are lunar eclipses once or twice a year, which are sometimes partial or other times total.
“As the moon orbits the Earth every 29-and-a-half days, we don’t see an eclipse every time,” adds Boyle. “As time moves on, you’ll see the curvature of the shadow of the Earth being cast onto the moon.”
Being away from the city or away from light pollution can help with viewing the eclipse better, but Boyle adds you really don’t have to. “But if you can, why not?”
