A total lunar eclipse is set to be visible early on March 14, and for those in Guelph, it will be an exciting opportunity to witness this celestial event — as long as the weather cooperates and you’re willing to stay up in the middle of the night.
Orbax, a well-known science communicator from the University of Guelph’s physics department, shared details about the event. He regularly produces “Star Gazing Guide” videos to help astronomy enthusiasts of all ages explore the night sky.
The lunar eclipse will begin around 2:30 a.m. on Friday, March 14 — also known as “Pi Day” — and will reach its full totality at 3 a.m., with the eclipse ending and returning to a normal full moon by 6 a.m.
Orbax, who refers to this phenomenon as one of the “most ridiculously named astrological occurrences of the year,” explained that the March full moon is traditionally called the Worm Moon. However, this year it’s being dubbed the Full Worm Blood Moon due to the accompanying lunar eclipse.
“This is the first lunar eclipse visible in North America since 2022, so it’s an exciting event after a three-year gap,” Orbax noted. “The next visible lunar eclipse won’t occur until next March.”
Lunar eclipses happen twice a year and are visible somewhere on Earth. Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to observe with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope, making this a perfect event for skywatchers to enjoy from the comfort of their own backyards.
