Total lunar eclipse lands on winter solstice

Total lunar eclipse lands on winter solstice

If you look up on Monday night, you'll see one of the night sky's true wonders.

A total lunar eclipse will be visible from Calgary, and in a rare coincidence, it's happening on the winter solstice.

During a total lunar eclipse, the earth's shadow covers the moon, said Devon Hamilton with the Calgary Science Centre.

"What's happening is sort of a cosmic ballet between the earth, the sun and the moon," Hamilton said.

During the celestial pas de trois, the light of every sunrise and sunset on earth combines, giving the moon an eerie red glow.

"Because of all the dust, because of all the volcanic eruptions that happened earlier this year, we are expecting to see a much browner and redder colour than we normally do during lunar eclipses," Hamilton said.

December's lunar eclipse is unusual because it falls on the same date as the winter solstice, only the second time in the last 2,000 years this has happened. The last was in 1638 according to NASA.

But there are some people who think the solstice eclipse merger has a deeper meaning.

"In the ancient times, they thought eclipses were times when humanity could move forth, move forward as a mass," said astrologer Deanna Giesbrecht, who for 35 years has been making predictions based on celestial events.

"It's a harbinger of change in Calgary as far as how we are seen by the outside world. It's also saying that there's new energy coming into Calgary."

Though both astrologers and astronomers watch the sky, they rarely see eye to eye on its ability to predict the future. But they both agree on this – for those able to see the total eclipse, the moon becomes magical.

"It seems to be glowing from within, and has a weird effect like a Chinese lantern," said Alan Dyer with the Calgary Science Centre.

Monday night's eclipse starts at about 11:30 pm.. and will be total by about 11:45 p.m. The best way to see any celestial event is in the countryside away from the city lights.

The next lunar eclipse visible in North America will be sometime next December, but only part of it will be visible. The next one after that is in 2014.

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