You can howl at the moon. You can believe in all sorts of full-moon folklore -- from the advent of werewolves to a corruption of the tides.
But if you want to see the full moon aglow in a dramatic range of colors -- a shift that could be anything from bright orange to blood red to dark brown or dark gray -- then look out your window starting at 8:43 p.m. Wednesday.
Starting then and lasting for the next three hours and 26 minutes you'll be able to watch the complete saga of the last visible total eclipse of the moon in North America until 2010, according to officials at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
A lunar eclipse can only occur at full moon, NASA scientists said. And it can only occur if the moon passes through a portion of the Earth's shadow.
A full lunar eclipse occurs when, according to the official NASA Web site "Eclipse Home Page," the entire full moon is "completely immersed" in the Earth's shadow. The total phase of eclipse is called "totality," according to NASA.
Different lunar eclipses can color the moon different colors, officials said. This depends on atmospheric conditions and, according to NASA, "the color and brightness of the totally eclipsed moon can vary considerably from one eclipse to another." The NASA Web page explains that dark eclipses are often the result of volcanic dust in the atmosphere. But since there has been no recent volcanic activity, scientists expect the Wednesday-night eclipse to be a "vivid red or orange" in the total phase.
The eclipse sequence will begin with a partial eclipse starting at 8:43 p.m. and will end at 12:09 a.m. Thursday.
The total eclipse of the moon will occur at 10:01 p.m. and last until 10:51 p.m., NASA said.
Mid-eclipse is expected at 10:26 p.m.
Scientists said the this lunar eclipse is "well-placed" for viewers in North America. The eclipse will not be observable in eastern Asia or Australia.
Unlike solar eclipses, NASA scientists remind would-be viewers that lunar eclipses are "completely safe" to watch.
"Protective filters are not necessary," according to NASA, "and neither is a telescope." However, while completely visible with the naked eye, scientists suggest binoculars will enhance the view.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-liluna0221,0,3942685.story
No comments:
Post a Comment