Total lunar eclipse primed to dazzle in Manitoba skies

A total lunar eclipse will be visible across Manitoba on March 3, 2026. CTV’s Joseph Bernacki has more.

Manitoba sky gazers are primed for an early alarm next week, as they ready to revel in a total lunar eclipse forecast to light up the night sky.

According to Manitoba Museum Planetarium astronomer Scott Young, the event begins late on March 2 and will last into the early morning hours of March 3.

“Lunar eclipses are always amazing and beautiful to view because you get the Moon turning the blood red colour,” he said.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Moon and the Sun during a full moon phase, allowing the Moon to descend into Earth’s shadow or umbra.

Some online chatter refers to Monday night’s event as a blood worm Moon, Young explained, named for the aforementioned red or copper hue the satellite takes on during eclipse totality.

As for the worm—they are said to appear around this time of year.

Young told CTV News that Manitoba viewers will see the early stages of the eclipse and all of the total phase, including maximum eclipse.

However, the Moon will set in our skies before completely leaving Earth’s shadow.

Revellers farther to the west will see more of the eclipse’s grand finale, while Eastern Canada will only catch a glimpse of the early stages before moonset.

By Young’s estimation, the Moon will start to move into the umbra between 4:30 and 5 a.m. CST. The copper colour will likely appear at around 5 a.m. CST.

The maximum eclipse phase is forecast peak about a half-hour later.

“It’s not necessarily a stay up late thing. It’s more a get up early thing, and make sure you have a lot of coffee,” he said.

How to view the lunar eclipse

Unlike their solar counterparts, Young said lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye and much more accessible.

“It’s an event that a lot of people can see. You don’t have to be in one special spot for one special minute,” he said.

“It sort of takes several hours and it happens nice and slowly, so it’s really easy for anyone to go outside and observe.”

According to the astronomer, the best way to take in the show is by using an ordinary pair of binoculars. They make it easier to see the red colour during the eclipse’s third phase and can also reveal some of the Moon’s craters and shadowy areas.

Those with telescopes should use lower magnification eyepieces to see the whole Moon at once.

‘It’s mesmerizing’

Churchill photographer Drew Hamilton has his camera primed for Monday night.

It’s not his first celestial rodeo, either.

He loves to photograph planetary events like these, including the last total lunar eclipse in March 2025. He camped out on the frozen Churchill River to watch it reach total eclipse, transfixed by what his eye and camera were able to capture.

“Just as the moon started to disappear, the aurora just exploded,” he said.

“It’s mesmerizing.”

He loves the camaraderie these celestial events foster among fellow revellers who camp out for hours on end, battling the elements for a chance to bear witness to a stunning sky show.

“You’re drinking coffee to stay up all night, telling stories while you’re waiting for things to happen, and then it culminates in this magical experience.”

Similarly, Young said eclipses demonstrate to us mere Earthlings that we are but one piece of a massive, interconnected solar system.

“The lunar eclipse reminds us that we are part of these ongoing celestial mechanics, and during an eclipse, you get all these things lining up—the Sun, the Earth, the Moon and your head."

“We’re all a part of that alignment.”

- With files from CTV’s Joseph Bernacki