Last total lunar eclipse in 3 years takes place Tuesday

This week’s total lunar eclipse will be the final one for three years.

The moon will be entirely in Earth’s shadow on Tuesday, Nov. 8, with totality visible across North America, Central America, Ecuador, Colombia, western parts of Venezuela, and Peru.

The moon sets just after totality begins for Puerto Rico. The eclipse will also be visible in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, while people in Alaska and Hawaii will have a chance to see every stage of the astronomical event.

In Pacific Standard Time, totality will begin at 2:17 a.m. Tuesday. It ends just over an hour later, at 3:42 a.m.

There are plenty of reasons to watch the skies in November: a total lunar eclipse, the Leonid meteors, and chances to see Mars, Saturn, and the star Spica! Check out the best times to spot these celestial bodies: pic.twitter.com/hmYGKio4Mq

— NASA (@NASA) November 2, 2022

A lunar eclipse happens when the moon, sun, and Earth are aligned so that the moon falls in the Earth’s shadow. A total lunar eclipse is defined as when the entire moon falls within the darkest part of that shadow, which is referred to as “the umbra.”

NASA says during totality, “the moon will turn a coppery-red” colour. As it exits the Earth’s umbra, the red will fade, and “it will look as if a bite is being taken out of the opposite side of the lunar disk as before.”

Given the colour the moon turns during a total lunar eclipse, it has often been referred to as a “Blood Moon.”

You don’t need any special tools to see a total lunar eclipse, though binoculars and telescopes can help make things more clear.

NASA recommends a dark environment away from bright lights for optimal viewing.

Clouds to cover eclipse in Vancouver

If you were among the many eagerly planning to catch a glimpse of the lunar eclipse in Metro Vancouver, you may be out of luck.

CityNews Meteorologist Carl Lam says it’s expected to be “very cloudy” across the region overnight into Tuesday, “with less than ideal conditions to view the lunar eclipse.”

“To make things worse, areas around Metro Vancouver will be dealing with some rain showers tonight but areas along East Vancouver Island will be dealing with snow showers,” he explained.

“Temperatures tonight will be dropping down to about 1°, for an overnight low, with even colder conditions expected on Vancouver Island and along the North Shore Mountains.”

While it may be tough to see the total lunar eclipse in person due to the weather, NASA offers a livestream so you don’t have to miss it altogether.

The next total lunar eclipse is set to take place on March 14, 2025. Between Nov. 8, 2022 and that time, there will continue to be partial and penumbral lunar eclipses.