Cochrane skywatchers will want to set an early alarm for March 3rd as the “Blood Worm Moon” lunar eclipse unfolds in the pre-dawn hours.
The total lunar eclipse will last roughly five and a half hours, with nearly one hour of totality — the dramatic stretch when the Moon turns a deep red.
In southern Alberta, the event happens between midnight and dawn, with the Moon setting shortly before the eclipse fully wraps up.
That means the best viewing window in Cochrane will be in the early morning hours before sunrise, looking west toward a clear horizon.
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The forecast is looking promising. Monday, March 2nd is expected to be sunny with a high of -2°C and a clear overnight low near -8°C. Tuesday, March 3rd is currently forecast to be sunny with a high around 10°C, though clouds could increase later that night with a 30 percent chance of flurries and a low near -9°C. Early risers may catch a break before any cloud moves in.
If clouds do roll in, you can still catch the show online. The Griffith Observatory will host a live stream beginning March 3rd at 1:47 a.m. MST.
Whether you bundle up and head outside in Cochrane or tune in online, this is one celestial event worth waking up for.