How and when to see the total lunar eclipse on March 3?

In the early morning hours of March 3, the Moon will pass through Earth’s shadow, causing a total lunar eclipse across Canada.

But what you see depends on where you are.

In Western Canada, the total eclipse will be visible, while in the Prairie provinces it will not be visible in totality, as the Moon will have set in the west during the event.

In parts of Atlantic Canada, the eclipse will be only partially visible.

To see the eclipse, observers will have to get up early (or stay up late if you’re in the West), as the eclipse occurs in the early morning.

Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse occurs over hours with distinct phases.

First, the Moon passes through Earth’s faint outer shadow called the penumbra. At this stage, it is almost impossible to notice any real difference in the Moon’s brightness.

Eventually, the Moon enters Earth’s inner, deeper shadow, called the penumbra. Then it seems that a part of the moon disappears or becomes very blurry. That is a partial phase.

In a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon enters that inner shadow, but it does not disappear—instead, it often turns red or orange because the Earth blocks direct sunlight from reaching it. That’s why these eclipses are often called “blood moons.”

The light reaching the Moon is filtered through Earth’s atmosphere. Colors with shorter wavelengths, such as blue, are scattered more easily, while those with longer wavelengths, such as red, are more likely to pass through, giving the moon its color.

If there is a lot of dust in the atmosphere – such as after a volcanic eruption – the eclipse may appear darker than usual, as was the case the year after the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines.

what to expect

The Moon will enter penumbra at 3:44 AM ET/12:44 PT. As mentioned, any changes in the Moon’s appearance will be difficult to see.

The real action starts at 4:50 AM ET/1:50 AM PT when the moon enters shadow. At this time the upper left part of the Moon will appear darker.

Finally, totality begins at 6:04 a.m. ET/3:04 a.m. PT, and ends at 7:03 a.m. ET/4:03 a.m. PT, before going back to a partial eclipse.

However, for people in the Eastern Time Zone, the Moon may have set before then.

But for those in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, they’ll see a full phase of totality. The moon will set during the partial phase as the moon moves out of the shadow.

you can visit time and date To see what you can expect to see along with the exact time of your location.

Paul Delaney, Emeritus Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of York In Toronto, there are some tips for people who are planning to view the eclipse.

“As with any eclipse, dress appropriately for the weather,” he said via email. “For Canadians (it) will probably be cold, so dress warmly for best enjoyment.”

Delaney said that if you want to take photos of the event, you need to know where the moon will be relative to your surroundings.

“Certainly, totality will be cut off by the moon setting, and typically the moon will be below the horizon for most Canadians. (This) could produce some interesting shots,” he said.