Banff 
Events Description
Weather permitting, you can experience a supermoon and total lunar eclipse on May 26, 2021, in Alberta.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, earth, and moon line up with Earth in the middle, and Earth’s shadow passes over the moon. For a long lunar eclipse, the centre of the full moon should align with the centre of the Earth’s shadow. Although this year the full moon doesn’t cross the centre of the Earth’s shadow, the alignment is still enough to produce a total lunar eclipse that lasts for a short period of time. In addition, a partial umbral eclipse (1.5 hours each time) will precede and follow the total eclipse which means the moon will take over three hours to cross the Earth’s shadow.
Why is the May 26th full moon called a Super Flower Moon and a Blood Moon:
- The May full moon is called a Flower moon to indicate spring blossoms and is used by many indigenous peoples across North America.
- During the May 2021 lunar eclipse, Canadians can experience a supermoon lunar eclipse. It is a super moon because the moon will appear approximately 14% brighter than usual since the Moon is almost in perigee — closer to Earth in the lunar orbit. The moon will be at a distance of 357,462 km (222,116.6 miles) from the Earth.
- When the Moon is in the Earth’s shadow, light refracted through Earth’s atmosphere tints the moon red causing a “blood moon”. During a total lunar eclipse, some sunlight still reaches the moon after it goes through Earth’s atmosphere. The blue portion of the sun’s white light reaching the Earth gets absorbed and then scattered. The leftover orange and red-coloured light passes get refracted and projected onto the Moon, causing the reddish-orange-coloured moon.
WHEN & WHERE
Date & Time:
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 | 2:47 am to 7:49 am.
The duration of the full eclipse is a little more than an hour and a half starting at 3:44 a.m.
Penumbral eclipse begins: 2:47 am
Partial umbral eclipse begins: 3:44 am
Total eclipse begins: 5:11 am
Greatest (maximum) eclipse: 5:18 am
Total eclipse ends: 5:25 am
Moon Sets: 5:26 am in Edmonton; 5:41 am in Calgary; 5:39 am in Grande Prairie; 5:34 am in Red Deer; 5:31 am in Medicine Hat; 5:42 am in Lethbridge.
Partial umbral eclipse ends: 6:52 am (not visible)
Penumbral eclipse ends: 7:49 am (not visible)
The duration of the full eclipse is a little more than an hour and a half starting at 3:44 a.m. MDT.
Venue:
In the Sky.
