How to watch the 'super flower blood moon' lunar eclipse in Vancouver
Sunday night's 'super flower blood moon' lunar eclipse should be visible from Metro Vancouver, but only if the clouds part and the weather cooperates.
The eclipse is set to begin around 7:30 p.m., reaching its maximum at 9:11 p.m., according to timeanddate.com. By 9:53 the whole thing will be over.
According to the Canadian Space Agency, it's both safe and easy to observe the stunning show in the sky.
"Lunar eclipses are one of the most easily observable astronomical phenomena because you do not need any equipment to observe them. However, you can use binoculars or a small telescope to see more details. You can even take a photo of a lunar eclipse with your cell phone under the right circumstances," the website reads.
"Contrary to solar eclipses, it is safe to observe a lunar eclipse with the naked eye. No special eye protection is necessary. Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses can be seen by practically an entire hemisphere, which means that a much larger number of people can see them for a longer period of time."
if the sky is clear, spotting the eclipse should be as easy as walking outside and looking toward the southeast.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth, sun and moon are aligned so that the moon crosses in the inner part of the Earth's shadow, called the umbra. When this happens, the sunlight becomes refracted through the Earth's atmosphere and indirectly shines on the moon, causing the reddish colour that inspired the name "blood moon."
Because this full moon falls during the month of May, it's also nicknamed the "flower moon" by the Old Farmer's Almanac to celebrate the blooming of flowers in the spring.
This lunar eclipse will be rare, given its length. The totality of the eclipse will last around 85 minutes. According to The Weather Network, this will be the longest total eclipse visible from Canada since 2007.
The next lunar eclipse that will be visible in Canada will take place between Nov. 7 and 8 later this year.
ONLINE LIVESTREAMS
If it's too cloudy, there are several online options for watching.
NASA will be broadcasting the event live on YouTube starting at 9:32 p.m. EDT. The agency will also be holding a Q&A to discuss the science behind eclipse as well as NASA's future plans for a manned moon mission with the Artemis program.
In Los Angeles, the historic Griffith Observatory will also be livestreaming the eclipse starting at 10:35 p.m. EDT and will have a timelapse video of the event posted to its YouTube channel the following day.
The Virtual Telescope Project will have a livestream featuring different views of the eclipse around the world.
With files from CTV News' Tom Yun
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Child labour remains an increasing source of Canada’s everyday products: NGO
Many Canadians remain unaware of the involvement of forced child labour in the products they buy, according to non-profit agency World Vision Canada.

Protesters at U.S. Supreme Court decry abortion ruling overturning Roe v. Wade
Hundreds of protesters descended on the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday to denounce the justice's decision to overturn the half-century-old Roe v. Wade precedent that recognized women's constitutional right to abortion.
'I landed in a safe haven': Uganda refugees celebrate LGBTQ2S+ community for first time
As Pride festivities kick off around the world, many refugees are celebrating the LGBTQ2S+ community for the first time.
Commonwealth falls short of condemning Russia as Trudeau prepares for G7
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau headed to the G7 summit in Germany on Saturday without a consensus from the Commonwealth to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but with a chorus of countries calling for help to overcome the fallout of the war.
WHO panel: Monkeypox not a global emergency 'at this stage'
The World Health Organization said the escalating monkeypox outbreak in nearly 50 countries should be closely monitored but does not warrant being declared a global health emergency.
Tear gas used to disperse protesters outside Arizona Capitol building, officials say
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday, holding that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to an abortion, protesters and supporters of the ruling gathered at the high court's building in Washington, D.C., and in other cities nationwide.
Conservative MPs free to attend 'freedom' protests this summer: Bergen
With the nation's capital bracing for anticipated anti-mandate 'freedom' movement protests during Canada Day weekend, interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen says her MPs are free to attend.
Vancouver's English Bay Barge still hasn't budged
A barge that ran aground near Vancouver's English Bay last year quickly became an accidental attraction, drawing selfie-seekers and inspiring T-shirt designs. But after seven months, residents seem to have grown weary of its hulking presence on the shoreline.
With war, Kyiv pride parade becomes a peace march in Warsaw
Ukraine's largest LGBTQ rights event, KyivPride, is going ahead on Saturday. But not on its native streets and not as a celebration.