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Monday’s total lunar eclipse promises a celestial treat
by Anter Prakash Singh - December 19, 2010 - comments
The viewers will be able to see the bright lunar surface being slowly covered by the earth’s shadow.
A celestial treat awaits the sky gazers as the total lunar eclipse slated for Monday night. Lunar eclipses are not so uncommon but this time the moon will be up high in the sky, visible to everyone across the United States.
Andrew fraknoi, chairman of astronomy at Foothill College, Los Altos Hills said that it will be an event which can be enjoyed by everybody as no expensive telescopes or equipment is required. A pair of binoculars will be sufficient, but those without it will also enjoy it clearly.
Monday’s eclipse will end at 12:53 am on Tuesday and the total period for which the moon will remain under the shadow of Earth will be 72 minutes.
Eclipse, a great celestial show
It isn't harmful to see a total eclipse of the moon with naked eyes, Alice Few of Tacoma Astronomical Society said. The only precaution is to be safe from the chill of the night.
The moon is always full during an eclipse.
The eclipse will start at 10:33 p.m. when the moon will start passing behind the Earth. This is the time when Earth block the sun's rays from reaching the moon, and there will of partial eclipse.
The viewers will be able to see the bright lunar surface being slowly covered by the earth’s shadow.
This curve gave a proof to the ancient observers in Greece that the surface of the Earth is actually round.
The eclipse will be total at 11: 41 as by that time the moon will be completely under the shadow of the Earth.
Eclipse will show moon in magnificent colors
At that time, the surface of the moon may be in any color, ranging from deep bronze to blood red.
The color will depend on the amount of pollution present in the atmosphere at that time, among others.
Unlike a solar eclipse which is visible only at a few places, a lunar eclipse is visible from all the places on the earth’s surface which are facing the moon at that time.
The last total lunar eclipse was on Feb. 20 2008.
Monday’s eclipse will end at 12:53 am on Tuesday and the total period for which the moon will remain under the shadow of Earth will be 72 minutes.
NASA will be showing the eclipse live on the website just in case weather gods decide to ruin the celestial show, and it will also be hosting chats related to the eclipse on this site.
The weather forecast however is not much encouraging as Intellicast.com has predicted 83 percent cloud cover on Monday and 63 percent on Tuesday.
The next total lunar eclipse visible throughout the continent will occur on the night of April 14, 2014.