Total Lunar Eclipse: Thursday 5/15/2003; 9:00 PM EST

Discover magazine, National Geographic ^ | 5/13/2003 | Self

[Robert A Cook PE]

A total lunar eclipse should be brilliantly visible against the full moon on early Thursday evening, May 15th. Since most of the storms seem to have blown past, let's hope the skies will be clear and not covered up.

Homeschoolers should take advantage of this (early evening) eclipse time to get some dramatic "free science homework credit" by spending a few minutes outside watching the moom suddenly "almost vanish" in an orange glow of reflected earthlight.

[Robert A Cook PE]

For info ... Figured people would want a few hours notice.

[Robert A Cook PE]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/0512_030512_lunareclipse.html

More info.

[GATOR NAVY]

I already checked the Nuatical Almanac-I won't be able to see it here in Japan :-(

[Robert A Cook PE]

Bummer.

[mhking]

Cool!

[Molly Pitcher]

FYI!

[dd5339]

Add this to your calendar!

Semper Fi

[Prolifeconservative]

How often is it that the sun passes over the moon? When was the last time that happened? I think it would be a good idea for everyone to wear special sunglasses for this event. It's going to be a weird experience when the Sun brightens up the night. I can't wait to see this.




(I'm joking people, I'm only joking)

[Robert A Cook PE]

Bump ...

Excuse me, I gotta close my eyes and go try to find my sunglasses.


8<)

[evets]

The best viewing is 60 min. starting 2300 ET. (I've seen this and it's worth the effort.)

[theFIRMbss]

>spending a few minutes outside watching the moom suddenly "almost vanish" in an orange glow of reflected earthlight.
>"The lunar eclipse can be appreciated and celebrated as an event which vividly illustrates our connection and place among the planets in the solar system," said Fred Espenak, NASA's eclipse expert at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Thanks for the info.
I only have two quibbles --
It's not "suddenly."

The eclipse happens
over about six hours.
And NASA's advice

to "celebrate" this
because it "illustrates our
connection and place

among the planets..."
sounds almost as if NASA
has become Wiccan...

[theFIRMbss]

>(I'm joking people, I'm only joking)

All that you touch
All that you see
All that you taste
All you feel
All that you love
All that you hate
All you distrust
All you save
All that you give
All that you deal
All that you buy,
beg, borrow or steal
All you create
All you destroy
All that you do
All that you say
All that you eat
And everyone you meet
All that you slight
And everyone you fight
All that is now
All that is gone
All that's to come
and everything under the sun is in tune
but the sun is eclipsed by the moon.


"There is no dark side of the moon really.
Matter of fact it's all dark."

[Robert A Cook PE]

OK, OK ... So it's "slow". What are ya gonna do? Speed up the planets?

8<)

Assuming this D**M rain stops(!@#$%^&*) the eclipse starts at 9:00 PM, the moon will half-covered by the earth's shadow about 1-1/2 later (which is very pretty), and totality is just after midnight Eastern.

Happy now? 8<)

[evets]

Actually: there is no "dark side" of the Moon; all parts of the Moon get sunlight half the time. The moon rotates once for every orbit around earth. That is why we always see the same side of it.

[NormsRevenge]

wormwood Bump

[NormsRevenge]

From Dr Sky

Observers in North America will be treated to the first of two important Total Lunar Eclipses in 2003. The first of these will occur for most of the USA and North America on the night of May 15-16. This eclipse will favor observers located in the eastern USA as the moon slides into a nearly central passage of the Earth's umbral shadow. This type of eclipse (total lunar) is safe to view with the naked eye and is one of the most amazing sights to see in the entire month of May. "Dr.Sky" has worked hard to compile these important links that will help you in ALL aspects of this rare event.

PS- If you have any interesting pictures of the eclipse, please send them 
with your permission, to steve@drsky.com Enjoy!
 

http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/OH/OH2003.html 
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEplot/LEplot2001/LE2003May16T.gif 
http://www.mreclipse.com/Special/LEprimer.html 
http://www.mreclipse.com/LEphoto/LEphoto.html 

[NormsRevenge]

Total Eclipse of Moon to Occur Thursday

LOS ANGELES - For astronomy buffs, Thursday night's eclipse will be the Super Bowl of celestial shows.

Moonwatchers across North America will be treated to the lunar eclipse, and astronomy groups around the country are planning star parties, experts said.

Weather permitting, the total eclipse will be the first visible across the United States in three years. It will also be visible in western Europe and southern Africa.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the full moon passes into the Earth's shadow and is blocked from the sun's rays that normally illuminate it. At the height of the eclipse, the sun, Earth and moon will align in space.

Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye. Astronomers recommend even a modest telescope or binoculars to enhance the view.

The eclipse will begin at 11:13 p.m. EDT, with the height of the phenomenon at 11:40 p.m.

___

On the Net:

Naval Observatory: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/LunarEclipse.html

Griffith Observatory: http://www.griffithobs.org/lunareclipse.html

[Sloth]

Grrrr... hope these clouds move out of southern Alabama today.

[evets]

You can't predict the weather.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Rainy, cloudy now ....

D**M.