Total Lunar Eclipse Monday Night

[+EdwardGlen]

I love these events! fyi; I found a really nice mid-level telescope at a local pawn shop for $35.00. Came in its original box with tri-pod, spotting scope, instructions, star chart and log book. Our family has spent hours upon hours looking at planets since we purchased it early this year. (best $35.00 on entertainment we ever spent.)

 

They also had several for $200-$350.00 that were electric powered and could be inner faced with a PC to follow the stars or planets you have targeted and a camera can be attached.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20101217/sc_space/amazingspectacletotallunareclipsemondaynight

 

For a few hours on the night of Dec. 20 to Dec. 21, the attention of tens of millions of people will be drawn skyward, where the mottled, coppery globe of our moon will hang completely immersed in the long, tapering cone of shadow cast out into space by our Earth. If the weather is clear, favorably placed sky-watchers will have a view of one of nature's most beautiful spectacles: a total eclipse of the moon.

 

Unlike a total eclipse of the sun, which is only visible to those in the path of totality, eclipses of the moon can usually be observed from one's own backyard. The passage of the moon through the Earth's shadow is equally visible from all places within the hemisphere where the moon is above the horizon.

 

The total phase of the upcoming event will be visible across all of North and South America, as well as the northern and western part of Europe, and a small part of northeast Asia, including Korea and much of Japan. Totality will also be visible in its entirety from the North Island of New Zealand and Hawaii — a potential viewing audience of about 1.5 billion people. This will be the first opportunity from any place on earth to see the moon undergo a total eclipse in 34 months. [Amazing photos of a total lunar eclipse]

 

This star chart shows where in the sky the upcoming lunar eclipse will appear. And check this NASA lunar eclipse chart to see how visible the eclipse will be from different regions around the world.

 

Stages of the eclipse

 

There is nothing complicated about viewing this celestial spectacle. Unlike an eclipse of the sun, which necessitates special viewing precautions in order to avoid eye damage, an eclipse of the moon is perfectly safe to watch. All you'll need to watch are your eyes, but binoculars or a telescope will give a much nicer view.

 

The eclipse will actually begin when the moon enters the faint outer portion, or penumbra, of the Earth's shadow a little over an hour before it begins moving into the umbra. The penumbra, however, is all but invisible to the eye until the moon becomes deeply immersed in it. Sharp-eyed viewers may get their first glimpse of the penumbra as a faint smudge on the left part of the moon's disk at or around 6:15 UT (on Dec. 21) which corresponds to 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time or 10:15 p.m. Pacific Time (on Dec. 20).

 

The most noticeable part of this eclipse will come when the moon begins to enter the Earth's dark inner shadow (called the umbra). A small scallop of darkness will begin to appear on the moon's left edge at 6:33 UT (on Dec. 21) corresponding to 1:33 a.m. EST or 10:33 p.m. PST (on Dec. 20).

 

The moon is expected to take 3 hours and 28 minutes to pass completely through the umbra.

 

The total phase of the eclipse will last 72 minutes beginning at 7:41 UT (on Dec. 21), corresponding to 2:41 a.m. EST or 11:41 p.m. PST (on Dec. 20).

 

At the moment of mid-totality (8:17 UT/3:17 a.m. EST/12:17 a.m. PST), the moon will stand directly overhead from a point in the North Pacific Ocean about 800 miles (1,300 km) west of La Paz, Mexico.

 

The moon will pass entirely out of the Earth's umbra at 10:01 UT/5:01 a.m. EST/2:01 a.m. PST and the last evidence of the penumbra should vanish about 15 or 20 minutes later.

 

Color and brightness in question

 

During totality, although the moon will be entirely immersed in the Earth's shadow, it likely will not disappear from sight. Rather, it should appear to turn a coppery red color, a change caused by the Earth's atmosphere bending or refracting sunlight into the shadow.

 

Since the Earth's shadow is cone-shaped and extends out into space for about 844,000 miles (1,358,000 km), sunlight will be strained through a sort of "double sunset," all around the rim of the Earth, into its shadow and then onto the moon.

 

However, because of the recent eruptions of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano last spring and the Merapi volcano in Indonesia in October, one and possibly even two clouds of ash and dust might be floating high above the Earth. As a result, the moon may appear darker than usual during this eclipse; during totality, parts of the moon might even become black and invisible.

 

A careful description of the colors seen on the totally eclipsed moon and their changes is valuable. The hues depend on the optical equipment used, usually appearing more vivid with the naked eye than in telescopes. The French astronomer Andre-Louis Danjon introduced the following five-point scale of lunar luminosity ("L") to classify eclipses:

 

L = 0: Very dark eclipse, moon almost invisible, especially in mid-totality.

 

L = 1: Dark eclipse, gray or brownish coloration, details distinguishable only with difficulty.

 

L = 2: Deep red or rust-colored eclipse, with a very dark central part in the shadow, and outer edge of the umbra relatively bright.

 

L = 3: Brick red eclipse, usually with a bright or yellow rim to the shadow.

 

L = 4: Very bright copper-red or orange eclipse, with a bluish very bright shadow rim.

 

Examine the moon at mid-totality and also near the beginning and end of totality to get an impression of both the inner and outer umbra. In noting an L observation, state the time and optical means (naked eye, binoculars or telescope) that is used. We invite readers to e-mail their Danjon estimate for this eclipse (along with any pictures they'd like to share) to cmoskowitz-at-SPACE.com.

 

At mid-totality, from rural locations far from city lights, the darkness of the sky is impressive. Faint stars and the Milky Way will appear, and the surrounding landscape will take on a somber hue. As totality ends, the eastern edge of the moon begins to emerge from the umbra, and the sequence of events repeats in reverse order until the spectacle is over.

 

Fringe effects

 

Interestingly, from most of New Zealand, a slice of northeast Australia, Papua, New Guinea, southwest Japan and Korea, the moon will rise during totality on the evening of Dec. 21. Because of low altitude and bright evening twilight, observers in these locations may not see much of the moon at all until it begins to emerge from out of the Earth's shadow.

 

Conversely, much of the United Kingdom and parts of western and northern Europe will see the moon set during totality on the morning of Dec. 21. Because of low altitude and bright morning twilight, observers in these locations may not see much of the moon at all after it slips completely into the Earth's shadow.

 

Past and future

 

The last total lunar eclipse occurred on Feb. 20 to Feb. 21, 2008 and was visible from most of the Americas, as well as Europe, much of Africa and western Asia. In 2011, there will be two total lunar eclipses. The first, on June 15, will be visible primarily from the Eastern Hemisphere and will have an unusually long duration of totality lasting one hour and 40 minutes.

 

Another total lunar eclipse will occur on Dec. 10 and will be visible over the western half of North America before moonset. For the next total lunar eclipse that will be visible across all of North America, we must wait until April 14 to April 15, 2014.

[Zombiefied]

Awesome post, never seen one, hopefully tonight is the night! Thanks for the heads up

[Grow Thread]

thanks for the heads-up. i have always been amazed at the wonders of nature.

 

also (this might get lengthy but i think its cool stuff) as most of you know i have been laid-up for awhile now. i have been watching way too much television. anyways, i learned some things about Christopher Columbus in a long 2hr. history channel special a couple weeks ago.

 

on his 3rd or 4th trip over here he had bad problems. he was getting old, had many enemies, and his ships werent allowed to come ashore as a storm was approaching. so his fleet weathered the storm in a small cove. they didnt fair well and decided to risk death and make their way to shore. the natives werent thrilled, but let columbus live on the beach. he grew very ill over the next months trying to plot an escape from there and get back home..... but his ships were all torn up.

 

anyways.... he grew so ill that eventually the natives cut off the small ration of food that was being delivered to columbus daily. he was certain to die.

 

BUT, being the great nautical engineer that he was...... he had been keeping detailed moon charts for MANY MANY years and predicted that a lunar eclipse was just a couple days away. he kept this prediction secret until the day of the eclipse. then he called for the leader of the native tribe and told him that christophers God was mad because his food had been cut off and to prove how pizzed off he is..... God was going to make the sun turn red that night.

 

Columbus wrote in his journal that he laid on the beach that evening and prayed that his calculations were correct. sure enough, it idid. he got fed, got his supplies, and got his azz off that island after that.

 

nature is amazing.... so is God.... and so are humans.

 

i couldnt predict a friggin lunar eclispe to save my life..... and 500 years ago cristopher columbus could have predicted it just for fun......... but it DID save his life in the end

[phaquetoo]

bubblegrower, on 19 December 2010 - 09:49 AM, said:thanks for the heads-up. i have always been amazed at the wonders of nature.

 

also (this might get lengthy but i think its cool stuff) as most of you know i have been laid-up for awhile now. i have been watching way too much television. anyways, i learned some things about Christopher Columbus in a long 2hr. history channel special a couple weeks ago.

 

Hey Bub Hope all is well!

I watch the history channel all the time, I love it!

 

Merry Christmas to All!

Peace

FTW

Jim

[+mayorherb]

I love these events! fyi; I found a really nice mid-level telescope at a local pawn shop for $35.00. Came in its original box with tri-pod, spotting scope, instructions, star chart and log book. Our family has spent hours upon hours looking at planets since we purchased it early this year. (best $35.00 on entertainment we ever spent.)

 

They also had several for $200-$350.00 that were electric powered and could be inner faced with a PC to follow the stars or planets you have targeted and a camera can be attached.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20101217/sc_space/amazingspectacletotallunareclipsemondaynight

 

For a few hours on the night of Dec. 20 to Dec. 21, the attention of tens of millions of people will be drawn skyward, where the mottled, coppery globe of our moon will hang completely immersed in the long, tapering cone of shadow cast out into space by our Earth. If the weather is clear, favorably placed sky-watchers will have a view of one of nature's most beautiful spectacles: a total eclipse of the moon.

 

Unlike a total eclipse of the sun, which is only visible to those in the path of totality, eclipses of the moon can usually be observed from one's own backyard. The passage of the moon through the Earth's shadow is equally visible from all places within the hemisphere where the moon is above the horizon.

 

The total phase of the upcoming event will be visible across all of North and South America, as well as the northern and western part of Europe, and a small part of northeast Asia, including Korea and much of Japan. Totality will also be visible in its entirety from the North Island of New Zealand and Hawaii — a potential viewing audience of about 1.5 billion people. This will be the first opportunity from any place on earth to see the moon undergo a total eclipse in 34 months. [Amazing photos of a total lunar eclipse]

 

This star chart shows where in the sky the upcoming lunar eclipse will appear. And check this NASA lunar eclipse chart to see how visible the eclipse will be from different regions around the world.

 

Stages of the eclipse

 

There is nothing complicated about viewing this celestial spectacle. Unlike an eclipse of the sun, which necessitates special viewing precautions in order to avoid eye damage, an eclipse of the moon is perfectly safe to watch. All you'll need to watch are your eyes, but binoculars or a telescope will give a much nicer view.

 

The eclipse will actually begin when the moon enters the faint outer portion, or penumbra, of the Earth's shadow a little over an hour before it begins moving into the umbra. The penumbra, however, is all but invisible to the eye until the moon becomes deeply immersed in it. Sharp-eyed viewers may get their first glimpse of the penumbra as a faint smudge on the left part of the moon's disk at or around 6:15 UT (on Dec. 21) which corresponds to 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time or 10:15 p.m. Pacific Time (on Dec. 20).

 

The most noticeable part of this eclipse will come when the moon begins to enter the Earth's dark inner shadow (called the umbra). A small scallop of darkness will begin to appear on the moon's left edge at 6:33 UT (on Dec. 21) corresponding to 1:33 a.m. EST or 10:33 p.m. PST (on Dec. 20).

 

The moon is expected to take 3 hours and 28 minutes to pass completely through the umbra.

 

The total phase of the eclipse will last 72 minutes beginning at 7:41 UT (on Dec. 21), corresponding to 2:41 a.m. EST or 11:41 p.m. PST (on Dec. 20).

 

At the moment of mid-totality (8:17 UT/3:17 a.m. EST/12:17 a.m. PST), the moon will stand directly overhead from a point in the North Pacific Ocean about 800 miles (1,300 km) west of La Paz, Mexico.

 

The moon will pass entirely out of the Earth's umbra at 10:01 UT/5:01 a.m. EST/2:01 a.m. PST and the last evidence of the penumbra should vanish about 15 or 20 minutes later.

 

Color and brightness in question

 

During totality, although the moon will be entirely immersed in the Earth's shadow, it likely will not disappear from sight. Rather, it should appear to turn a coppery red color, a change caused by the Earth's atmosphere bending or refracting sunlight into the shadow.

 

Since the Earth's shadow is cone-shaped and extends out into space for about 844,000 miles (1,358,000 km), sunlight will be strained through a sort of "double sunset," all around the rim of the Earth, into its shadow and then onto the moon.

 

However, because of the recent eruptions of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano last spring and the Merapi volcano in Indonesia in October, one and possibly even two clouds of ash and dust might be floating high above the Earth. As a result, the moon may appear darker than usual during this eclipse; during totality, parts of the moon might even become black and invisible.

 

A careful description of the colors seen on the totally eclipsed moon and their changes is valuable. The hues depend on the optical equipment used, usually appearing more vivid with the naked eye than in telescopes. The French astronomer Andre-Louis Danjon introduced the following five-point scale of lunar luminosity ("L") to classify eclipses:

 

L = 0: Very dark eclipse, moon almost invisible, especially in mid-totality.

 

L = 1: Dark eclipse, gray or brownish coloration, details distinguishable only with difficulty.

 

L = 2: Deep red or rust-colored eclipse, with a very dark central part in the shadow, and outer edge of the umbra relatively bright.

 

L = 3: Brick red eclipse, usually with a bright or yellow rim to the shadow.

 

L = 4: Very bright copper-red or orange eclipse, with a bluish very bright shadow rim.

 

Examine the moon at mid-totality and also near the beginning and end of totality to get an impression of both the inner and outer umbra. In noting an L observation, state the time and optical means (naked eye, binoculars or telescope) that is used. We invite readers to e-mail their Danjon estimate for this eclipse (along with any pictures they'd like to share) to cmoskowitz-at-SPACE.com.

 

At mid-totality, from rural locations far from city lights, the darkness of the sky is impressive. Faint stars and the Milky Way will appear, and the surrounding landscape will take on a somber hue. As totality ends, the eastern edge of the moon begins to emerge from the umbra, and the sequence of events repeats in reverse order until the spectacle is over.

 

Fringe effects

 

Interestingly, from most of New Zealand, a slice of northeast Australia, Papua, New Guinea, southwest Japan and Korea, the moon will rise during totality on the evening of Dec. 21. Because of low altitude and bright evening twilight, observers in these locations may not see much of the moon at all until it begins to emerge from out of the Earth's shadow.

 

Conversely, much of the United Kingdom and parts of western and northern Europe will see the moon set during totality on the morning of Dec. 21. Because of low altitude and bright morning twilight, observers in these locations may not see much of the moon at all after it slips completely into the Earth's shadow.

 

Past and future

 

The last total lunar eclipse occurred on Feb. 20 to Feb. 21, 2008 and was visible from most of the Americas, as well as Europe, much of Africa and western Asia. In 2011, there will be two total lunar eclipses. The first, on June 15, will be visible primarily from the Eastern Hemisphere and will have an unusually long duration of totality lasting one hour and 40 minutes.

 

Another total lunar eclipse will occur on Dec. 10 and will be visible over the western half of North America before moonset. For the next total lunar eclipse that will be visible across all of North America, we must wait until April 14 to April 15, 2014.

We live up in central mich area. And they realy show up in the night skies up here with all darkness around here..hope to see it.

[+420Atheist]

Thanks for the great post. I love this stuff too and have read several of Sagan's and Hawking's books. Aristotle argued the world was round partially based on the "umbrella" effect during a lunar eclipse. For those looking for a telescope Thunderf00t on youtube just did a great video on the subject.

 

[knottwhole]

Reporting from somewhere in Brooklyn Michigan.

Tripods ready. Clear skies not.

Got a nice pic of the early rise. My wide angle couldn't get the massive ring around it.

Doesn't look good here for any viewing but I'm ready for a hole to open up.

[drtarzanmd]

 

I'm going to try being there

 

when the Moon fills w/ Blood ....

[mizerman]

I don't think this has happened since 1638?

 

 

Mizerman

[+420Atheist]

Effing clouds.

[1337Gr33n]

All of this always reminds me of HP Lovecraft and Madame Blavatsky. And of course, His Royal Badness, Cthulhu!