Shawnigan Observatory Draws Crowd

Clear, crisp conditions made for beautiful viewing Sunday evening as dozens of curious sky gazers from the school and local community joined Head of Science, Nigel Mayes, and friends from the Cowichan Valley Starfinders astronomy club at the Shawnigan Observatory to watch the "Super Blood Wolf Moon" lunar eclipse.

In North America, this rare total lunar eclipse saw the full moon move into Earth's shadow, with sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere casting a dramatic red glow on the moon. This particular eclipse – visible from start to finish across Canada – was special in that it actually combined four lunar events: a full moon, a Supermoon (when the moon is very near perigee, aka its closest distance to earth), a Wolf Moon (a traditional seasonal name for January’s full moon phase), and a Blood Moon (a total lunar eclipse, when the Earth’s shadow blocks out any direct light from the sun).

Far removed from city lights, Shawnigan’s observatory offers an awesome window to the stars. It’s a window that Mr. Mayes is keen to open to interested members of the community, citing the Starfinders as key partners to sharing the observatory with the wider public. "The Cowichan Valley Starfinders were instrumental in securing the original donation of the telescopes and the robotic mount,” says Mr. Mayes. “Under the leadership of Brian Robilard, the Starfinders attend many of our events and support the school by helping to set up equipment and by guiding students and the public during observing sessions."

While you’ll have to wait until 2021 to watch the next total lunar eclipse, follow the Observatory Facebook page to see other celestial events happening this year at the observatory.