British Columbia

Catch the supermoon and lunar eclipse through a B&B's telescope

A B&B in Osoyoos will be giving telescope tours of the sky to patrons during the total eclipse of a supermoon.

Guests will have the chance to look through a 6-inch refracting telescope with binocular viewers

Astronomer and owner Jack Newton seen peeking out of the Observatory B&B in Osoyoos. (David Gluns/British Columbia Magazine)

A bed and breakfast in Osoyoos is offering its guests an incredible vantage point for Sunday night's double feature: a supermoon and total lunar eclipse.

Equipped with a six-inch refracting telescope with binocular viewers, guests will be able to see the whole moon at Observatory B&B says owner and astronomer, Jack Newton.

"They get to see the whole moon all at the same time. It gives you the appearance that you are travelling to the moon and ready to go to orbit; like the astronauts would get a view like that," said Newton. 

The combination of the moon passing directly behind the Earth during the moon's closest approach to the Earth hasn't been seen since 1982 and it won't happen again until 2033. 

Where and when to watch

For those unable to catch a glimpse through a telescope, CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe suggests going to Boundary Bay in Delta or any spot where you can see the eastern horizon without obstruction. 

A blood red moon lights up the sky during a total lunar eclipse on April 4, 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Phil Walter/Getty)

West Coast spectators will have to work hard to see the celestial show.

The eclipse will already be underway when the moon becomes visible around 7:11 p.m. PT.

The eclipse will peak at 7:47 p.m. PT and end at 8:23 P.M. PT, with the closing penumbral stages at 10:22 p.m. PT.

You'll need a clear sightline to the east to see it, which is set to peak at just seven degrees above the horizon.


To hear the full interview listen to the audio labelled B&B owner gives a tour of the lunar eclipse of a supermoon on CBC's Daybreak South.