• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Lunar Eclipse Tonight (Dec 20-21)

Status
Not open for further replies.
MovingTarget

MovingTarget

Diamond Member
I know this isn't exactly politics, but it is news. Tonight there will be a total lunar eclipse. Hopefully those of us who can be awake at such hours will remember to look up and observe a marvel of nature. Enjoy.

Those of you who live in the North America* will be treated to a total lunar eclipse tomorrow night (Monday night/Tuesday morning)! The whole thing unfolds over about 3.5 hours, starting at 1:30 a.m. Eastern time.
Click to expand...
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/12/19/lunar-eclipse-monday-night/

The various stages, fully described:
1) Moon enters penumbra (12:29 a.m. EST/9:29 p.m. PST)
2) Penumbral shadow begins to appear (1:13 a.m. EST/10:13 p.m. PST)
3) Moon enters umbra (1:33 a.m. EST/10:33 p.m. PST)
4) 75 percent coverage (2:23 a.m. EST/11:23 p.m. EST) 5) Less than five minutes to totality (2:37 a.m. EST/11:37 p.m. PST)
6) Total eclipse begins (2:41 a.m. EST/11:41 p.m. PST
7) Middle of totality (3:17 a.m. EST/12:17 a.m. PST)
 8) Total eclipse ends (3:53 a.m. EST/12:53 am. PST)
9) 75 percent coverage (4:10 a.m. EST/1:10 a.m. PST)
10) Moon leaves umbra (5:01 a.m. EST/2:01 a.m. PST)

11) Penumbra shadow fades away (5:20 a.m. EST/2:20 p.m. PST)
12) Moon leaves penumbra (6:04 a.m. EST/3:04 p.m. PST)
Click to expand...
http://www.space.com/spacewatch/tot...eed:+spaceheadlines+(SPACE.com+Headline+Feed)
 
I'm visiting my sister in New Mexico. I just looked up outside at 12:49 local time (which SHOULD be within the totality interval), and the moon does look weird - much fainter than usual and with an orangish glow. But it's still completely visible. Center of totality is 26 minutes away as I write this, but at this point I'm not expecting a black sky where the moon used to be.
 
Our Photography Group had a meet planned for this. Solid cloud cover over Hawaii...we had to cancel...bummers. However, the eclipse three years ago was great from out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

The Big Island group is having a great time above the clouds at Mauna Kea, along with projected snow coming.
 
So, I guess the Earth's atmosphere scatters enough light from the sun that longer (reddish) wavelengths still reach the moon, even at "totality." It's certainly a spooky-looking moon out right now, but it lacks the "wow!" factor of a total solar eclipse.
 
Well, I am no where near Hawaii, but in the mid-West, all that could be seen was clouds, clouds, and snowflakes. Oh well, next chance will be in 2011. But it won't be visible in the USA.

But no sour grapes from me, for those lucky enough to see it live, it had to be worth watching. Sure I can watch photo's, but actually watching first hand trumps second hand.
 
Saw most of it with perfectly clear sky. It was pretty cool show and the moon turned all dark brown/orange in color. The other amazing thing was noticing how many stars were showing without the light of the moon.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top