February 2008 Total Lunar Eclipse
Posted by msterilinn on Feb 20, 2008
It is happening now! I was pretty busy today, so I almost missed the Total Lunar Eclipse… yet wanted to take a moment to remind folks that it is truly happening now. It is not visible from my house as of yet, in Oregon USA, but I am hopeful of viewing it as the moon appears within the next hour or so. Totality strikes at 10:00 p.m. Eastern and lasts for 52 minutes. The Moon exits Earth’s umbra, ending the partial phase, just after midnight (12:09 a.m. Eastern). Which means totality shall strike at 7:00 p.m. my time. I am so excited, and shall be outside the moment I get dinner done…
Enjoy!
For more information relating to Lunar and Solar eclipses, please feel free to visit my previous post… Solar and Lunar Eclipses in 2008
*Note -This is the third total lunar eclipse in less than a year, so if you’ve missed the other two, don’t neglect this one. Several partials are upcoming, but the next total eclipse of the Moon won’t take place until December 20–21, 2010.
Solar and Lunar Eclipses in 2008
Posted by msterilinn on Feb 6, 2008
Such events are wonderous to behold, and create a certain amount of awe and excitement for me. I know I am not alone in my thoughts on these most auspicious of occasions. I am referring to the Lunar and Solar eclipses, of course. I have touched upon this subject in the past, yet I shall endeavor to refresh the minds of those interested.
Eclipses come in two styles, solar and lunar, and each has its variants.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, something that can only happen at new Moon. If the lunar disk completely hides the Sun, even for a moment, the eclipse is total. Those who live within, or travel to, the narrow path of totality see the Sun’s ruby-red gaseous prominences and ghostly white outer atmosphere momentarily revealed when the brilliant solar disk is fully covered. Outside the path, about half the world is able to watch a partial eclipse as the Moon obscures a portion of the Sun.
A lunar eclipse takes place when Earth’s shadow falls onto the Moon’s surface. The type of eclipse (partial or total) depends on how deep the full Moon plunges into the umbra, our planet’s dark, central shadow. If it goes all the way in, we see a total lunar eclipse that’s preceded and followed by partial phases. If the Moon skims the umbra, only the partial phases occur.
Occasionally the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun but doesn’t completely cover it. This odd-sounding situation is an annular eclipse, so-called because at mid-eclipse a ring, or annulus, of sunlight surrounds the lunar disk. Outside the zone of annularity, observers see a partial solar eclipse.
February 7: Annular Eclipse
The path of the first eclipse of 2008 traverses a frozen corner of Antarctica and the southern waters of the Pacific Ocean. While very few will see the two-minute-long annular phase, observers in New Zealand and southeastern Australia will be treated to a partial eclipse of the Sun during the afternoon of the 7th.
February 20–21: Total Lunar Eclipse
This event is the highlight of the year for those who can’t get to the solar eclipse on August 1st. The entire lunar eclipse will be visible across Europe and western Africa on the morning of the 21st, and throughout North and South America on the evening of the 20th. Look for the full Moon to begin sliding into the umbra at 8:43 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (5:43 p.m. Pacific, 1:43 a.m. UT). Totality strikes at 10:00 p.m. Eastern and lasts for 52 minutes. The Moon exits Earth’s umbra, ending the partial phase, just after midnight (12:09 a.m. Eastern).
*Note -This is the third total lunar eclipse in less than a year, so if you’ve missed the other two, don’t neglect this one. Several partials are upcoming, but the next total eclipse of the Moon won’t take place until December 20–21, 2010.
August 1: Total Solar Eclipse
The narrow path of totality of the first total eclipse of the Sun since March 2006 will sweep across northern Canada and the Arctic, through central Russia, and into Mongolia, ending in China. At mid-eclipse near Nadym in northern Russia, observers will experience 2 minutes 27 seconds of totality. Outside the centerline track, the partial phases of the eclipse will be visible across all of Asia (excluding Japan), central and eastern Europe, and northern Canada.
August 16: Partial Lunar Eclipse
A partial eclipse of the Moon ends the 2008 eclipse season. The lunar disk will pass through the northern half of the Earth’s umbral shadow, resulting in a partial phase that lasts 3 hours 9 minutes. This eclipse will be visible in its entirety to skygazers in Africa, Europe, and central Asia. Those in eastern South America, South-East Asia, and Australia will see the partially eclipsed full Moon either rise or set.
It’s been a while since North America experienced a total solar eclipse of the Sun. But take heart, not much longer to wait, because August 21, 2017 is the date.
Visit Sun and Earth NASA Home Page to learn more indepth details and view maps.
Enjoy!
Reminder… next lunar eclipse August 28th 2007
Posted by msterilinn on Aug 25, 2007
Just a quick reminder to catch the next lunar eclipse on August 28th. You won’t want to miss out on this spectacular event in the night sky. Follow this link to get timezones for your area and more detailed information on the next Lunar Eclipse
~ August 28th 2007 marks the next Lunar Eclipse! ~
Posted by msterilinn on Aug 7, 2007
I am truly excited to view this event, especially as this year it occurs just hours after my birthday!! Mark your calendars for August 28th 2007, as this marks the date of the next Lunar Eclipse. This event will be visible from the United States and Canada as well as South America, the Pacific Ocean, western Asia and Australia. During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon’s disk can take on a dramatically colorful appearance from bright orange to blood red to dark brown and (rarely) very dark gray.“Times and Phases of the Total Lunar Eclipse of August 28, 2007″
To many of us, Full Moon is the phase of love and romance. When the Moon is Full, it rises at sunset and is visible all night long. At the end of the night, the Full Moon sets just as the Sun rises. None of the Moon’s other phases have this unique characteristic. It happens because the Moon is directly opposite the Sun in the sky when the Moon is Full. Full Moon also has special significance with regard to eclipses.
An eclipse of the Moon (or lunar eclipse) can only occur at Full Moon, and only if the Moon passes through some portion of the Earth’s shadow. The shadow is actually composed of two cone-shaped components, one nested inside the other. The outer or penumbral shadow is a zone where the Earth blocks part but not all of the Sun’s rays from reaching the Moon. In contrast, the inner or umbral shadow is a region where the Earth blocks all direct sunlight from reaching the Moon.
The color and brightness of the totally eclipsed Moon can vary considerably from one eclipse to another. Dark eclipses are caused by volcanic gas and dust which filters and blocks much of the Sun’s light from reaching the Moon. But since no major volcanic eruptions have taken place recently, the Moon will probably take on a vivid red or orange color during the total phase.
The total phase of a lunar eclipse is called totality. At this time, the Moon is completely immersed within the Earth’s dark umbral shadow. During the August 28 eclipse totality will last 90 minutes.
Enjoy! 
“More information at the NASA Eclipse Home Page”
