Super blood wolf moon casts 'spectacular' glow over Edmonton
CBC News | Posted: January 21, 2019 2:29 PM | Last Updated: January 21, 2019
The moon was bathed in Earth's shadow for an hour
Edmonton shutterbugs were howling at the moon Sunday night as the moon beamed an eerie red before it was fully eclipsed by Earth's shadow.
The event was called a "super blood wolf moon," and crystal clear skies gave Edmontonians a perfect view of the celestial phenomenon.
During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through a shadow cast out into space by Earth.
A total eclipse, visible to only half the world, occurs when the central, dark part of the shadow obscures all of the moon's surface, leaving a glowing red ring.
The gleaming sphere, known as a blood moon, was surrounded by glittering stars and the planet Uranus, which are usually drowned out by the moon's bright glow.
- Total lunar eclipse will bring blood red moon to Edmonton
- Edmonton invited to view eclipse at Telus World of Science
The entire eclipse took more than three hours. Totality — when the moon is completely bathed in Earth's shadow — lasted an hour.
The next total lunar eclipse won't be until May 2021.
It was also the year's first supermoon, when a full moon appears a little bigger and brighter thanks to its slightly closer position.
Countless skywatchers took to social media to share their images of the rare sight.