08/27/2026
For those in Alberta here are the deets on the partial lunar eclipse tonight.
This eclipse is all about letting go.
What are you ready to let got of in your life?
Almost Total Lunar Eclipse Tonight With Potential Northern Lights Visible At Same Time in Alberta 🌕
Eyes to the sky tonight as we are set to be treated to an almost total lunar eclipse! Unfortunately, the eclipse may not be visible across all of Alberta, though.
We will see some scattered cloud cover across the province for most of the afternoon and in parts of Northern Alberta, the cloud cover could be quite thick at times. The latest data is showing that later in the afternoon and into the evening, the cloud cover will increase, particularly in West Central and Northwestern Alberta, but also in Southern Alberta. These clouds will also come with the chance of some light rain, too.
For now, it appears that the eclipse will not be visible for many in Central and Northern Alberta, but hopefully there will be enough of a break in the clouds at some point during the event for everyone to be able to catch a glimpse.
The outer part of the Earth's shadow will begin to cover the Moon at around 7:20pm, when the Moon is still below the horizon. The partial eclipse will then start at 8:33pm, when the Moon is still close to the horizon, and this is when we will begin to see the Moon begin to be covered by a reddish tinge.
The Earth's shadow will continue to cover more of the Moon as it rises and the peak of the eclipse will occur at 10:12pm, when approximately 93% of the Moon will be covered by the red hue. The eclipse will then gradually wind down, with the partial eclipse coming to an end around 11:51pm and the outer shadow covering the Moon until approximately 1:00am.
And it might not be just the eclipse gracing the skies tonight!
We’re also closely watching the potential for the northern lights to be visible. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) is currently forecasting a G1 to G2 geomagnetic storm, with activity expected to arrive sometime late this evening or during the overnight hours. If the timing lines up just right, we could potentially see the northern lights and a lunar eclipse at the same time!
Keep in mind that the brightness of the full Moon could make any northern lights difficult to see early in the eclipse. However, as more of the Moon becomes covered by Earth’s shadow and the sky gets darker, any aurora that is present could become easier to spot.
The timing of the northern lights is far from guaranteed, as forecasts of incoming solar activity can be tricky. The energy could arrive later than expected, be weaker than forecast or largely miss Earth altogether.
However, one thing we can count on tonight is the lunar eclipse!
Are you excited to take in tonight’s lunar eclipse?
Be sure to share your photos with Alberta Storm Reports! We’ll be temporarily pausing our usual rule for Moon photography, which normally requires the ground to be visible in the photo, so you can share your shots of tonight’s lunar eclipse.
- Alannah