Posted on 08/26/2007 1:04:32 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
DENVER - The Earth's shadow will creep across the moon's surface early Tuesday, slowly eclipsing it and turning it shades of orange and red. The total lunar eclipse, the second this year, will be visible in North and South America, especially in the West. People in the Pacific islands, eastern Asia, Australia and New Zealand also will be able to view it if skies are clear.
People in Europe, Africa or the Middle East, who had the best view of the last total lunar eclipse in March, won't see this one because the moon will have set when the eclipse begins at 4:51 a.m. EDT. It will take an hour to reach full eclipse stage.
An eclipse occurs when Earth passes between the sun and the moon, blocking the sun's light. It's rare because the moon is usually either above or below the plane of Earth's orbit.
Since the Earth is bigger than the moon, the process of the Earth's shadow taking a bigger and bigger "bite" out of the moon, totally eclipsing it before the shadow recedes, lasts about 3 1/2 hours, said Doug Duncan, director of the University of Colorado's Fiske Planetarium. The total eclipse phase, in which the moon has an orange or reddish glow, lasts about 1 1/2 hours.
The full eclipse will be visible across the United States, but East Coast viewers will only have about a half-hour to see it before the sun begins to rise and the moon sets. Skywatchers in the West will get the full show.
In eastern Asia, the moon will rise in various stages of eclipse.
During the full eclipse, the moon won't be completely dark because some light still reaches it around the edges of the Earth. The light is refracted as it passes through our atmosphere, scattering blue light — which is why the sky is blue — but sending reddish light onto the moon.
"When someone asks why is it (the moon) red, you can say because the sky is blue," Duncan said.
The next total lunar eclipse occurs Feb. 21, 2008, and will be visible from the Americas, Europe and Asia.
Oh yes!
I just checked again and the moon is now completely blocked and rose-colored. It was worth staying up to see.
That's because the atmosphere on Earth has little dust in it right now, and as a result the light refraction through the Earth's atmosphere is quite strong. (If I hear this is a result of global warming I'm going to virtually bop the person who says it.)
Glad you’re seeing it way up there also. My first peek was about 2:15, when the Weather Channel (I know...I’m boring) gave us a heads-up; there was just a sliver of bright then, and now it looks pretty total.
make that first glimpse at 2:45....need more coffee.
Yes-It's usually overcast at this time of the early morning, but, there's not a cloud in the sky right now. Perfect viewing.
Thanks again for taking these. They’re just awesome!
Good night.
Ahhhhh. Interesting.
Seems to be approaching or right at maximum here in NW New Mexico when I just peeked out.
Bump... Beautiful sight this morning driving in to work.
Your photos are wonderful. Better than my binoculars. LOL.
Thanks.
BTTT
When was the last time this happened like this, if you know? Thanks in advance.
It is still dark orange here in Southern Oregon... where are you?
Being a natural insomniac, I don't have to make any special effort.
I dug out the Celestron and Mead telescopes, but the Carl Wetzler marine binoculars work just as well... the moon isn't that far away really.
All of the neighbors are blissfully dozing... they know I am a pretty sleepless person. It gives them piece of mind I am out there watching the neigborhood...
I’m here in San Diego. The night is so clear and still and not a cloud in the sky, so I can see the moon perfectly!
I just wandered out onto the dock and saw it across the lake. Really beautiful.
Signs in the heavens, the moon turned to blood...
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57338
San Diego... That’s a good day’s drive away...
It is clear here too...
I liked the ‘mars’ effect of the southern ‘ice cap’ after #31. I felt like I was on Deimos? We need to get Sheila Jackson Lee’s comment!
Awfully busy this morning. Venus rising through the clouds. Eclipse setting. Meteors. Coffee. Roosters. CHAOS!
I watched the whole thing from my back porch this morning while I enjoyed some Columbian. (Coffee, not weed.) Life’s to the point now that I can enjoy some of the things I used to be too busy to worry about.
Saw the partial phase (prior to totality) on the way in to work.
i am in ur outer space eating ur moon.
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