Toronto 
Weather permitting, you can experience a supermoon and total lunar eclipse on May 26, 2021. Unlike the lunar eclipse of 2018 which lasted for nearly 1.5 hours, this year the total eclipse will last only for less than 15 minutes.
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 the name is used by many indigenous peoples across North America.
- During the May 2021 lunar eclipse, those in Western Canada 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 IS THE LUNAR ECLIPSE
Date: May 26, 2021
The total phase of the eclipse can best be viewed by people living in western Canada. People in eastern time zones can catch a glimpse of the partial eclipse (the full eclipse will be below the horizon) in the early morning hours.
Lunar Eclipse Times:
- Penumbral eclipse begins: 4:47 a.m. EDT / 3:47 a.m CDT / 2:47 a.m CT / 2:47 a.m MDT /1:47 a.m PDT
- Partial umbral eclipse begins: 5:45 a.m. EDT / 4:45 a.m. CDT / 3:45 a.m.CT / 3:45 a.m. MDT / 2:45 a.m. PDT
- Total eclipse begins: 7:11 a.m. EDT / 6:11 a.m. CDT/ 5:11 a.m. CT / 5:11 a.m. MDT/ 4:11 a.m.PDT
- Greatest (maximum) eclipse: 7:18 a.m. EDT / 6:18 a.m. CDT / 5:18 a.m. CT / 5:18 a.m. MDT / 4:18 a.m. PDT
- Total eclipse ends: 7:25 a.m. EDT / 6:25 a.m. CDT / 5:25 a.m. CT / 5:25 a.m. MDT /4:25 a.m.PDT
- Partial umbral eclipse ends: 8:52 a.m. EDT / 7:52 a.m. CDT / 6:52 a.m CT / 6:52 a.m. MDT /5:52 a.m. PDT
- Penumbral eclipse ends: 9:49 a.m. EDT / 8:49 a.m. CDT / 7:49 a.m. a.m CT / 7:49 a.m. MDT / 6:49 a.m. PDT
Maximum Eclipse Times:
- Pacific Daylight Time (eg: Most Parts of BC): 4:18 am on Tuesday, May 26th. Moon sets around 5:26 a.m.
- Mountain Daylight Time (eg: Alberta): 5:18 am. on Tuesday, May 26th. Moon sets around 5:26 am.
Greatest Eclipse or the maximum eclipse will not be visible in other parts of the country.
- Central Time (Eg: Saskatchewan): 5:18 am on Tuesday, May 26th (not visible). Moon sets at 5:05 am.
- Central Daylight Time (Eg: Manitoba): 6:18 am on Tuesday, May 26th (not visible). Moon sets at 5:37 am
- Eastern Daylight Time (Eg: Ontario/Quebec): 7:18 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26th (not visible). Moon sets at 5:46 am
- Atlantic Daylight Time (NB, PEI, NS): 8:18 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26th(not visible)
- Newfoundland Daylight Time: 8:48 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26th (not visible)
HOW TO WATCH LUNAR ECLIPSE
Credit: Wikipedia Commons
Unlike a solar eclipse, you can watch the lunar eclipse with the naked eye – just look up at the moon.
If you live in western Canada, you can enjoy the best views of the event as the maximum eclipse occurs at — 5:19 a.m. MDT/4:19 a.m. PDT
The duration of the full eclipse is a little more than an hour and a half starting at 3:45 a.m. MDT/2:45 a.m. PDT. During this time the moon will turn an orange-red, called BLOOD MOON.
Watch the Eclipse Online
