Eclipses and boreal aurora: the sky will show itself in Quebec in the coming weeks

Eclipses and boreal aurora: the sky will show itself in Quebec in the coming weeks



After a big year 2024, the sky will once again show up in the coming weeks. We present to you the astronomical phenomena which will soon be visible in Quebec.

Lunar and solar eclipses

During the month of March, two eclipses will perform in Quebec’s sky: a total lunar eclipse on the night of March 13 to 14 and a partial solar eclipse on March 29.

“These are phenomena that are repeatedly repeatedly repeated. We have between two and five eclipses per year, ”underlines Olivier Hernandez, director of the Montreal Planetarium.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the shadow of the earth completely encompasses the moon.

As the shadow of the earth is wider than the moon, this type of eclipse occurs more frequently, specifies the astrophysicist.

“It’s always impressive, because we manage to see changes in color. We see the shadow cone of the earth on the moon that is progressing and then we see its change in color because of the darkness of the earth which is due to the refraction of sunlight through the atmosphere, ”explains Olivier Hernandez.

The show could however be affected by the smoke of fires in California, which could travel to us.

“The color of the moon may not be orange, but rather very dark. It remains spectacular, ”says the expert.

The eclipse will be at its maximum around 2:58 am.


Mega/if

Then, two weeks later, a partial solar eclipse will occur very early in the morning, around 6:44 am, at the time of sunrise.

“We will only see a crescent of sun rising,” notes Olivier Hernandez.

The maximum of the partial eclipse will be visible east of Rimouski and north. We can still see a larger crescent sun to the west.

Please note: it is imperative to wear your eclipse glasses to look at it – especially for a partial eclipse.

Northern borealis


Photo provided by Philippe Moussette.com

As the sun has still not reached its peak of solar activity, the next few weeks will be conducive to the northern lights, says Olivier Hernandez.

In addition, winter lends itself particularly well to the observation of northern lights, since “the duration of the night is much greater”, specifies the astrophysicist.

“You have to stay ready to move, trying to observe them away from cities to have an increasingly grand spectacle,” he advises, since light pollution greatly decreases the visibility of the northern lights.

Seven visible planets

During the month of February, it is also possible to see six planets neighboring the earth with the naked eye or using telescope.

During the night, we can observe Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. The best time to see them is 90 minutes after sunset.

The day, it is rather Neptune and Uranus who are visible.


AFP

It is quite rare that we can see four or five planets at the same time, according to NASA.

“These are exceptional phenomena that reproduce after much later in the life of a human, you have to take advantage of it now,” suggests the astrophysicist.

Enthusiasm

The frenzy around the total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024 caused a monster craze for astronomical phenomena, notes the director of the Montreal Planetarium.

“All that relates directly or indirectly to the space domain, people are passionate. We really felt this need to be even more connected to the universe and to understand it even more, ”adds Olivier Hernandez.

– with information from the QMI agency



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