A total lunar eclipse, also known as a Blood Moon, will be visible this week in Alberta if the weather cooperates.
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) says a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is between the moon and the sun, and the moon passes through Earth’s shadow.
The phenomenon will be visible in Canada starting on Thursday night and early Friday morning, CSA said.
Weather forecasts are calling for clouds in Okotoks and other parts of Alberta during the eclipse but, if there are breaks in the clouds, it will be visible just after midnight on Friday.
According to NASA, the eclipse will begin at 9:57 p.m. MST on March 13 and will reach totality at 12:26 p.m. on March 14.
The moon is never completely invisible during a total eclipse, CSA said.
Sunlight refracted from the Earth's atmosphere gives the moon a red hue which is why it is called a Blood Moon..
No special equipment is needed to see a lunar eclipse, and it is safe to view with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.
There are two lunar eclipses each year, on average, and 37 per cent are total lunar eclipses, CSA said.
The next total lunar eclipse will be visible in Canada on March 2, 2026.
