Supermoon viewing is a great excuse for getting outside
From city parks to the Rockies to the prairies, there are plenty of places to see the biggest moon since 1948
It's big, it seeks the light, it sometimes sports an orange hue and it will be hard to miss over the next couple of days.
No, it's not Donald Trump, but the biggest supermoon we've seen in almost 70 years.
Thanks to the moon's elliptic orbit, November 14 — also a full moon — will be the closest the moon has been to the Earth since 1948. It will shine about 30 per cent more moonlight than is typical, according to NASA.
If that doesn't send you scrambling for a place to watch the celestial show, it might help to know the moon won't be this grand again until 2034.
The best time to see this supermoon is between 4:52 and 6:52 a.m. MT on November 14, but there's sure to be a great show starting on Saturday night and continuing through to Monday for as long as you can see the moon in the sky.
So where should a Calgarian go for the best view and to maybe grab a photo or 10,000? City parks offer some of the best opportunities, but keep in mind they're officially closed between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Weaselhead Flats
Why not use the moon as an excuse to jump on your bike for a crisp morning ride to this wilderness area at the mouth of the reservoir. With the Tsuut'ina First Nation on one side and a giant lake on the other, you'll feel like it's the middle of nowhere and the light pollution will be greatly reduced. Plus, bike ride!
Nose Hill Park
Hike up to the top of Calgary's biggest park and watch the moon dangle over the city. It's the perfect mix of urban and cosmic and sure to create some meaningful photos (if you're got the lens for it).
St. Patrick's Island
It recently took first place in the great public spaces category at the Canadian Institute of Planners' Great Places competition, so why not check out this inner-city gem and the moon at the same time. Hike up the Rise — a small constructed hill with a fire pit on top — and get a close up view of downtown and the moon. Maybe make a s'more.
The mountains
If you've got the time and the ability, why not just get out of town completely and watch the giant moon over the giant mountains. The Rockies are a spectacular backdrop for heavenly light shows, get out and enjoy them. Dress warm. Maybe bring some coffee. And please don't hike to the top of one if you don't know what you're doing.
The prairies
There are a lot of wide-open space around the sprawling city, with small roads surrounded by nothing but fields. And cows. It's the perfect unobstructed view of the skies. Why not park your ride on a dusty road, lay back and think about how significant you are in relation to the cosmos?
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