View Full Version: Lunar Eclipse - Now

Shrewsbury Forum > General Chat > Lunar Eclipse - Now



Title: Lunar Eclipse - Now


Chris Pritchard - March 3, 2007 08:42 PM (GMT)
Stargazers are in for a treat tonight with a total eclipse of the moon is taking place.

The eclipse began at 2018 GMT, with the Moon totally immersed in the shadow of the Earth between 2244 and 2358 GMT.

During "totality", only light that has been filtered through the Earth's atmosphere reaches the Moon's surface, making it appear a reddish colour.

Lunar eclipses occur when the Sun, Earth and Moon are in a near-perfect line in space.

The Moon travels through the long cone-shaped shadow that the Earth casts in space. At totality, the only light reaching the Moon's surface at this point has been refracted through the Earth's atmosphere.

The appearance of the lunar surface varies according to how much dust is in the Earth's upper atmosphere. For example, following major volcanic eruptions, the Moon appears to be a deep red and almost invisible.

As there have not been any recent sizeable eruptions, astronomers are predicting that the Moon will be bathed in a bright orange light.

Watch on-line: http://www.lunarobservers.com/mooncam.htm

Redsquirrel - March 3, 2007 09:06 PM (GMT)
Lucky too, that the sky looks so clear at the moment. Well worth a few pictures, this one.




Hosted for free by InvisionFree