Vancouver Night Full Moon from Stanley Park / Shutterstock
One of the year's most spectacular astral displays takes place in Vancouver skies this weekend - the super blood wolf moon.
This mesmerizing display takes place from Sunday, January 20 through to Monday, January 21.
While a massive supermoon is breathtaking to observe on its own, this one is special for a number of reasons.
- the earth's shadow makes the moon turn turn a dusky red or copper colour (hence the term 'blood moon')
- it coincides with a total lunar eclipse - the next one won't take place until 2021
- January's full moon name - wolf moon - was created during colonial times when wolves howled in hunger outside of villages
Super Blood Wolf Moon Viewing
It may be tempting to try and soak in the phenomena with the naked eye, but stargazers will have a much better time observing the show from the space centre.
The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre is hosting an epic viewing party on Sunday, January 20, 2019 from 6:30 pm – 10 pm during the total lunar eclipse. Here, guests will have the opportunity to view it outside, or, if it is a rainy night, the centre will provide a live feed of the eclipse in the Planetarium Star Theatre.
In addition, the centre is encouraging visitors to learn more about the moon and eclipses and will have the observatory open so that guests may check out the moon up close through a telescope.
Stargazers who plan on viewing the show with the naked eye should opt to travel as far away from city lights as possible. This will avoid light pollution that will obscure the clarity of heavenly bodies. And, while this works best the in more remote places, anywhere that has a higher elevation will also provide more ideal viewing conditions.
Currently, Environment Canada calls for a chance of showers on Sunday night, which may obscure the view due to cloudy skies.
