Canadians are in for a breathtaking celestial show as a rare total lunar eclipse, commonly referred to as a “blood moon,” graces the night sky later this week.
The highly anticipated event will occur overnight on Thursday, March 13, and into the early hours of Friday, March 14, as the sun, earth, and moon align perfectly, causing earth’s shadow to partially or fully obscure the moon.
During a total lunar eclipse, the moon takes on a coppery red glow, caused by sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere.
The phenomenon will be most visible from North America and South America, though parts of Africa and Europe may also be able to spot the eclipse. This will be the first blood moon visible in Canada since November 2022.
The blood moon will be visible for about an hour, starting at 2:26 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Friday morning, with peak viewing around 3 a.m.
The peak of totality will occur at 2:58 a.m. and will last until 3:31 a.m. During this time, the moon will be fully cloaked in earth’s shadow and appear bathed in a deep red hue, before gradually fading with the end of the partial eclipse at 4:47 a.m. and the conclusion of the penumbral eclipse at 6 a.m.
An estimated 3.2 billion people worldwide are expected to witness some part of the eclipse, with around 863 million lucky viewers able to see the full event in its entirety.
As for the forecast, The Weather Network is predicting partly cloudy skies on the night of March 13, providing a fair chance to see the event. It should also be above-seasonal temperatures with spring weather in store, anticipating overnight temperatures around 5 degrees Celsius.
No special equipment or protective glasses are required for viewing. Simply head outside, find a clear spot with minimal light pollution, and look up.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to witness a breathtaking display in Toronto’s night sky, as the next total lunar eclipse won’t occur on this side of the planet until March 2-3, 2026!
Another total lunar eclipse will also take place in September 2025 for parts of Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe.