Here's how to watch to watch the lunar eclipse in Vancouver tonight
Vancouverites are set to witness a lunar eclipse tonight, where the moon will appear reddish as it passes through Earth's shadow. The eclipse will be visible from 7:56 p.m. with its maximum at 9:12 p.m., reaching about 94 percent eclipse. Viewers need to find a location with an eastern view, and wildfire smoke might uniquely affect the moon's color.
Why it matters
This article provides practical information for local residents to experience a significant astronomical event, fostering public engagement with science and local community activities. It also touches on how local environmental factors like wildfire smoke can influence natural phenomena.
Vancouverites are soon in for a treat, with a lunar eclipse expected this evening.
A lunar eclipse is when the full moon is in Earth’s shadow, causing its usual bright white colour to redden, explained Michael Unger, the director of programming with the H.R. MacMillian Space Centre.
In Earth’s shadow, the direct light from the sun isn’t hitting the moon anymore (which is what normally causes it to be that bright white). Instead, “ there is this curvature of light that goes around the Earth, and that’s what’s shining on the m oon,” Unger said.
The hue of red that the moon will be depends on what’s currently happening in our atmosphere, similar to a sunset. For example, the colour of the sun deepens when there are more clouds or particles in the atmosphere, which Vancouverites are familiar with when there’s wildfire smoke in the air.
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