Alberts may get a chance to witness a red moon or lunar eclipse this Sunday.
On Sunday, May 15, Albert residents may see a red moon, or perhaps no moon at all. Neither an illusion nor an atmospheric effect, the rare celestial event is a total lunar eclipse, the first to be observed in Alberta this year.
For the people of Albert, the partial phases of the lunar eclipse will already be underway when the moon rises.
Lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the earth’s shadow in space and only with the correct alignment between the sun, earth and moon. During the eclipse, the Moon will enter the dark (umbrella) shadow of the earth, acquiring a dark red or rusty appearance. Although direct sunlight does not reach the moon during a dark eclipse, the moon is illuminated by a small amount of long-wavelength sunlight (red) refracting through the Earth’s atmosphere. After the partial (umbral) eclipse is over, the full moon of May, known as the colored moon, will shine again in the night sky.
Unlike a solar eclipse, an impending lunar eclipse does not require special monitoring equipment and is completely safe to see with the naked eye. Telescopes and binoculars will offer more details about the moon, but are not needed to watch a lunar eclipse. As the moon will rise before the eclipse begins, a place that provides unobstructed views of the southeastern horizon will offer the best views.
The impending lunar eclipse depends on the weather and may not be visible in cloudy skies.
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