Red Moon set to dive behind Earth (Lunar Eclipse tonight)

BBC ^ | November 8th, 2003 | David Whitehouse

[Sabertooth]

Red Moon set to dive behind Earth

By Dr David Whitehouse

BBC News Online science editor

The colour of the Moon can change dramatically

A total lunar eclipse will be visible on Saturday from Europe, Africa, the Americas, and much of Asia - if the weather is kind and gives clear skies.

The Moon regularly passes into the Earth's shadow and becomes dimmer. It happens about every six months or so.

A lunar eclipse has no great importance astronomically but can be enjoyed by many people without special equipment.

Skywatchers should train their eyes on the Moon from 2215 GMT, when it enters the outer edges of our planet's shadow.

In the UK, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England is using the eclipse to highlight the problem of light pollution.

Majestic clockwork

Mid-eclipse takes place between 0106 and 0131 GMT Sunday as the Moon transits the southern edge of the Earth's shadow.

WHERE IT WILL BE SEEN America, Europe, Africa and parts of Asia Dust and cloud in Earth's atmosphere may affect the Moon's colour

Totality is quite short this time because the Moon only passes just inside the full shadow of the Earth, and the Moon's southern edge, in particular, should remain fairly bright.

As the show progresses, the Moon will get dimmer and, possibly, turn reddish during mid-eclipse, when the only light that can reach the lunar surface is red light refracted through the Earth's atmosphere.

Astronomers will be scrutinising the Moon's surface through telescopes to note how its appearance changes as the Sun is obscured by the Earth.

The Moon leaves the last bit of shadow at 0422 GMT.

Skywatchers in North America will see the eclipse begin in twilight as the Moon rises on Saturday evening. It will all be over by US midnight.

Imperturbable serenity

Although lunar eclipses have no great scientific significance, they are a spectacle of nature that delights and enthrals.

In the past things were different. It was a portent from the sky, possibly a sign of divine displeasure.

TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE Occurs when Moon passes into Earth's shadow Penumbra: Region where Earth blocks some (but not all) Sun rays Umbra: Zone where Earth blocks all direct sunlight - total eclipse

But as superstition has given way to reason, a lunar eclipse has rightly come to be regarded as an example of the majestic clockwork of the heavens.

Thomas Hardy said the movement of the Earth's shadow over the Moon had an "imperturbable serenity".

The colour effect is the stuff of myth and legend. An account in 331 BC said: "...all her light was sullied and suffused with the hue of blood."

Some ancients called it "the time of the blood of the Great Mother's wisdom", linking the Moon's colour with menstruation.

This was a natural thing to do given the link between the length of the month and human fertility.

Ugly orange glow

In 1503, Christopher Columbus, stranded in the Caribbean, used a lunar eclipse he knew would take place to impress the natives and secure respect and fear, as well as a regular supply of food.

In the UK, countryside campaigners are using the eclipse to highlight the increasing problem of light pollution of the night sky.

The say the Moon may be visible but scattered light from towns and cities is snuffing out the stars.

"A lunar eclipse is spectacular, but more often than not the sky in which it appears is smeared with an ugly orange glow from light pollution," said Tom Oliver, the CPRE's head of rural policy.

"Why should thoughtless, wasteful outdoor lighting spoil so many people's views of the heavens?"

[ngc6656]

Thanks for starting this thread, Sabertooth.

Eclipse is underway as seen in clear skies from western VA. The forecast this morning called for mostly cloudy skies. Sure am glad they were wrong.

I'm interested in folks' perceptions of the color of the eclipse. Will the CA fires redden it up?

Doesn't appear so at the moment, all looks black and white and many shades of gray.

[ngc6656]

Anybody know when this will start on the Left Coast? Thanks.

The Moon leaves the umbral shadow at 10:05 p.m., E.S.T., that would be at 7:05 p.m. on the Left Coast.

[flair2000]

Seeing the same thing here. Moon close to half dark, no red at this time. Maybe the light from the uneclipsed side is drowning out the redness right now, and we will see it go red near totality.

[orangestar]

I'm seeing a nice blue halo on the right hand side. It looks like a willy wonka gob swapper!

[Alas Babylon!]

Coming up in Southeast Alabama now. Can't wait for the red to start showing!

[katnip]

Gosh, I thought I was the only one seeing blue.

[ngc6656]

I'm seeing a nice blue halo on the right hand side. It looks like a willy wonka gob swapper!

LOL, is it because I'm an old relic, or because I don't watch T.V. I have no idea what a willy wonka gob swapper is.

[orangestar]

I thought the blue halo might be the result of looking through the glass of my window. I went outside and saw the same blue halo - only brighter.

[Unknown Freeper]

Here you go: The World Clock - Time Zones

[Jack Black]

Jimi Hendrix
Electric Ladyland (1968)
Voodoo Chile

Well, I'm a voodoo chile
Lord I'm a voodoo chile

Well, the night I was born
Lord I swear the moon turned a fire red
The night I was born
I swear the moon turned a fire red
Well my poor mother cried out 'lord, the gypsy was right!'
And I seen her fell down right dead
(Have mercy)

Well, mountain lions found me there waitin'
And set me on a eagles back
Well, mountain lions found me there,
And set me on a eagles wing
(Its' the eagles wing, baby, what did I say)
He took me past to the outskirts of infinity,
And when he brought me back,
He gave me a venus witch's ring
Hey!
And he said 'Fly on, fly on'
Because I'm a voodoo chile, baby, voodoo chile
Hey!

Well, I make love to you,
And lord knows you'll feel no pain
Say, I make love to you in your sleep,
And lord knows you felt no pain
(Have mercy)
'Cause I'm a million miles away
And at the same time I'm right here in your picture frame
(Yeah! What did I say now)
'Cause I'm a voodoo chile
Lord knows I'm a voodoo chile

Well my arrows are made of desire
From far away as Jupiters sulphur mines
Say my arrows are made of desire, desire
From far away as Jupiters sulphur mines
(Way down by the Methabe Sea, yeah)
I have a humming bird and it hums so loud,
You think you were losing your mind, hmmm...

Well I float in liquid gardens
And Arizona new red sand
(Yeah)
I float in liquid gardens
Way down in Arizona red sand

Well, I taste the honey from a flower named Blue,
Way down in California
And the n New York drowns as we hold hands

'Cause I'm a voodoo chile
Lord knows I'm a voodoo chile
Yeah!

[Robert A Cook PE]

Info.

[ngc6656]

With binoculars, I'm now picking up a pinkish blush inside the umbral shadow on the Moon.

[Allegra]

I'm jealous of y'all who can see it. It's cloudy here and I was hoping to get a glimpse, but can't see a thing in the sky but murk.

[katnip]

I did the same thing. Are you wearing glasses?

[orangestar]

6656: Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. His secret candy invention. It was a giant suck-all-day that changed colors as it dissolved.

[orangestar]

Yes, bifocs....:}

[vikingchick]

Thank you. I hope the cloud cover goes away so I can see it.

[Unknown Freeper]

bttt

[rs79bm]

Am now seeing Orange Redish color on eclipsed part of moon.

[katnip]

Progressives for me. If I take my glasses off, the color is more brownish red than blue, but then I can't see much
either :-)