Lunar eclipse and meteor shower over Canada this weekend

Dec 19 2017, 4:36 pm

Will Vancouverites be able to see this weekend’s lunar eclipse and meteor shower?

Unless you were in the suburbs or at high elevation, it was far too foggy to see this evening’s penumbral lunar eclipse (ended at 6:48 p.m.) when the bottom half of the full moon was darkened by the Earth’s shadow. If you missed tonight’s lunar event, which occurred during our moonrise, you’ll have to wait until April 14, 2014 for the next lunar eclipse.

However, another event over our night skies is scheduled to occur on Sunday. Fragments and leftover pieces of the trail from Hailey’s Comet will rain down over our atmosphere on Sunday night until just before Monday’s sunrise. Known as the Orionid Meteor Shower, the event will be best viewed during the darkest hours of the night and will appear as if shooting stars are coming out of the ‘club’ of Orion’s constellation.

Anywhere between 20 to 25 visible meteors per hour are expected just before dawn on Monday and it will be observed equally well in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Unfortunately, for Canadians at least, the 94 per cent illuminated brightness of the full moon could prove to be difficult to view the meteor shower and could ruin the plans of stargazer’s across the country.

Foggy weather ruined tonight’s eclipse, but for the time being the Vancouver forecast calls for clear skies on Sunday night and early Monday morning.

Two more meteor showers are scheduled following this weekend’s event, including the Leonids Meteor Shower on the night of November 16 and the Geminids Meteor Shower on the nights of December 12 and 13.

Do you have photos of meteor showers and lunar eclipses? Submit your photos to us by email at tips[at]vancitybuzz.com

Feature Image: Alexis Birkill

DH Vancouver StaffDH Vancouver Staff

+ News
ADVERTISEMENT