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full moon

The biggest and brightest supermoon of 2024 is this week — Here's when to see it

If you love cool celestial events, you're in for a treat this week! The brightest supermoon of the year is set to shine tomorrow night.

According to The Weather Network, this full moon will be the biggest and brightest of 2024. It's also the brightest Hunter's Moon Canadians have seen in 17 years.

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Tonight's full moon is a rare supermoon, partial eclipse and harvest moon all in one

Get ready to look up, because tonight's full moon will be putting on a show in Montreal.

On Tuesday night, not only will you see a supermoon — one of the biggest and brightest moons of the year — but there's also going to be a partial lunar eclipse. Oh, and did we mention it's also the harvest moon? Basically, the moon is putting in overtime tonight, and you definitely don't want to miss it.

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A Total Lunar Eclipse Will Be Visible Across Quebec Today (CORRECTION)

A 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' — oops, a total lunar eclipse will light up the skies on Tuesday, November 8 and you can get a front-row seat to the astrological phenomenon right here in Quebec.

The magic will occur on November 8 and marks the second total lunar eclipse of 2022. Montrealers looking to set their sights on the blood moon moment can do so starting at 3 a.m.* as the penumbral eclipse begins.

The full total lunar eclipse will be visible as of 5:16 a.m.* EST on November 8 and will end at 6:41 a.m.* — so mark those calendars, 'cause you don't wanna miss it.

What is a total lunar eclipse?

According to the Canadian Space Agency, a total lunar eclipse occurs when Earth is completely between the Moon and the Sun. The magic moment can only happen during a full moon when it's on the opposite side of Earth to the Sun.

Lunar eclipses can be seen by an entire hemisphere, which isn't the same for solar eclipses — this way a "much large number of people can see them for a longer period of time."

Depending on the Moon's trajectory, three types of lunar eclipses are possible: a penumbral eclipse, partial eclipse and total eclipse, which is when the Moon completely crosses Earth's umbra, the Canadian Space Agency states.

How can you see a total lunar eclipse?

A full moon is necessary for a total lunar eclipse to be visible. According to the Canadian Space Agency, November's total lunar eclipse will go through all three stages and last between "30 and 60 minutes".

Luckily, you don't need any equipment to observe the phenomenon. However, binoculars or a small telescope can allow you to see more details, the Space Agency says. You can even snap a shot with your smartphone under the right circumstances — that's just how visible it can be!

No special eye protection is necessary either; as it's totally safe to observe a lunar eclipse with the naked eye.

When is the next total lunar eclipse?

The next total lunar eclipse won't occur until the night of March 13 to 14, 2025, the Canadian Space Agency states. However, you will still be able to spot a few other types of eclipses till then.

  • October 14, 2023 — Partial solar eclipse (Canada-wide)
  • Night of October 28 to 29, 2023 — partial lunar eclipse (Eastern and northern Canada)
  • April 8, 2024 — Total solar eclipse (southern Ontario, southern Quebec, Atlantic provinces)
  • Night of September 17 to 18, 2024 — Partial lunar eclipse (Canada-wide)

*Editor's note: A previous version of this article listed incorrect times for the lunar eclipse on November 8. The article has been updated with the correct information.

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.

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The Harvest Moon Is In Full Force & Will Light Up The Skies Of Montreal This Weekend

The harvest moon is making its appearance yet again this weekend in Montreal and you can spot it in all its glory one last time tonight. The moon appeared at sundown Friday evening at around 7:30 p.m. and will continue to shine bright well into Sunday.

The harvest moon is one of the most widely recognized and is actually the closest to the fall equinox, states Farmer's Almanac. The moonlight used to be particularly important during fall, when harvests were the largest, which is how it got its name to begin with, considering farmers depended on the moonlight to harvest their crops late into the night, says NASA.

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full moon

The Last Supermoon Of 2022 Has Arrived & It's Lighting Up The Sky Across Canada (PHOTOS)

Did you notice the bright full moon in Montreal's sky Thursday night? Well, say hello to our final supermoon of the year. The Sturgeon Moon will luckily be making another appearance from August 12 to 13 — giving those who missed the mesmeric moment a chance to feast their eyes on the magic.

NASA described the phenomenon as a "marginal supermoon," which means last night's and tonight's moon is the third closest to the Earth in 2022.

Though the June and July supermoons may have been closer, August's supermoon is just as remarkable as it lights up the skies across Canada and Montreal got a front-row seat to the enchanting views.

According to The Weather Network, this supermoon is nearly 26% brighter than January's apogee full moon, or around 13% brighter than the average full moon (like the one back in March).

The big and bright moon isn't the only cosmic phenomenon happening this week. The Perseids meteor shower is also currently at its peak and can be spotted in an array of places across Quebec.

You've got until August 13 to spot the meteor shower, which you can do from a boat or paddleboard on a nighttime adventure tour at Éco-Odyssée near Montreal.

Although the Sturgeon Moon marks the final supermoon of the year, you can still get in on some stellar astral action in October when Mars goes into retrograde and in November as the second total lunar eclipse of 2022 will be visible all across Canada.

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.

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Shooting Stars AND A Full Moon Are Expected To Be Visible Across Quebec On The Same Night

If you thought August's annual Perseids meteor shower was the only time of year to observe the sky, think again. Grab a blanket and a hot chocolate because shooting stars are expected to fill the sky above Quebec this week.

The Orionid meteors are active from September 26 through November 22, according to the American Meteor Society, with peak activity occurring on October 21.

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A Rare Full Moon Will Shine Over Quebec This Weekend & It Won't Happen Again For 3 Years

Don't forget to look up at the sky on Sunday night. A full blue moon, which The Weather Network calls "the rarest full moon of 2021," will be visible in Montreal.

This full blue moon is rare because it's the first one to happen in the summer in five years and, according to The Weather Network, there won't be another one like it until 2024.

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