Stargazers across Canada and the United States are in for a weekend of ambitious skywatching, with two notable events lighting up the night sky. The first arrives tonight, when a partial lunar eclipse will shade the Moon as it passes through Earth’s outer shadow. The second unfolds on Sunday, when the Orionids meteor shower graces the dark hours before dawn. Together they offer a compact weekend of celestial drama that can be enjoyed from many locations in North America, weather permitting.
During the eclipse, the Moon will slide into Earth’s penumbral shadow, producing a subtle dimming rather than a dramatic darkening. The effect is faint but real, lasting for about four hours as a portion of the lunar disc sits in the planet’s outer shadow. The moment of greatest visibility is around 7:50 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, when roughly 76.5 percent of the Moon will be enshrouded by the penumbra. Observers will still be able to see the shading with the naked eye, though a telescope or telephoto lens can reveal finer gradations along the lunar limb.
For those who cannot view the eclipse in person, modern technology provides an alternative. The Slooh Space Camera will broadcast the entire four-hour progression starting at 2:45 p.m. EDT, offering online access to the event from wherever observers are comfortable. Because the Moon is bright, cameras with longer focal lengths will capture the subtleties of the shading more clearly than casual snapshots, making a telephoto lens a smart accessory for anyone with an interest in astrophotography.
On Sunday the sky will host the Orionids meteor shower, a stream of particles shed by Halley’s Comet that streak across the night at extraordinary speed. The shower remains visible across North America, but it will be less impressive than usual due to the full Hunter’s Moon lighting up the sky on Friday. The Orionids travel at about 238,000 kilometres per hour as they encounter Earth’s upper atmosphere, creating bright, swift streaks that inspire awe even in a modest meteor display.
The Orionids’ peak activity yields roughly 15 to 20 meteors per hour, though viewers may notice fewer meteor trails if the Moon’s glare is strong. The best time to watch is generally between 1 a.m. and dawn local time, when the dark hours stretch and the sky is quiet. Even with challenges, a few fast, icy fireworks can still be seen on clear nights, especially from dark, rural locations away from city lights.
Gear matters. Cameras with telephoto lenses reveal subtle shading more clearly, so friends with long lenses can capture a sharper, more dramatic view.
A live broadcast of the full four-hour event will stream from the Slooh Space Camera beginning at 2:45 p.m. EDT, letting inland watchers follow every phase. Because the Moon is bright, cameras with longer focal lengths will capture the subtleties of the shading more clearly than casual snapshots, making a telephoto lens a smart accessory for anyone with an interest in astrophotography.
Then on Sunday, the Orionids continue through the weekend, lasting until the 22nd, though Friday’s full Hunter’s Moon will dim the display. Some faint streaks may still be seen.