Dark side of the Moon
 

No, nothing about Pink Floyd here, just this tidbit for any skywatchers;

Total Eclipse of the Moon Comes Saturday
By Associated Press

LONDON - The moon will turn shades of amber and crimson Saturday night as it passes behind the Earth's shadow _ the first total lunar eclipse in three years.

The eclipse will be at least partly visible from Asia to the Americas, although residents of Europe, Africa and the Middle East will have the best view.

Lunar eclipses occur when Earth passes between the sun and the moon, blocking the sun's light. The event is rare because the moon spends most of its time either above or below the plane of Earth's orbit.

Although it will pass completely under Earth's shadow, light from the sun will still reach the moon after being refracted through Earth's atmosphere, giving the moon an eerie dark reddish tinge.

"It's not an event that has any scientific value, but it's something everybody can enjoy," said Robert Massey of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Earth's shadow will begin moving across the Moon at 2018GMT Saturday, with the total eclipse occurring at 2244GMT and lasting over an hour.

Residents of east Asia will see the eclipse cut short by moonset, while those in the eastern parts of North and South America will find the moon already partially or totally eclipsed by the time it rises over the horizon Saturday evening.

Eastern Australia, Alaska and New Zealand will miss the show altogether.

The next total eclipse of the moon will occur on Aug. 28.

Bummer, missing it again.

Oh.

*Leaves thread*

:p

Thanks for the heads up. Get it!! Heads up... up in the sky... looking up... :huh:

:blink:

*leaves thread for real*

scotzoidman,

Yes indeed! I am ready! :)

We won't get to see it with all the clouds I'm sure.

Heard on the news here the last time there was a lunar eclipse The Red Sox won the World Series :nana:

Ya, cloudy, can't see it here. :(

we tried looking for it last night, but we are in a big city and the light pollution made it so we couldn't see it. Bummer!

The clouds hid it here also. :(

I was extremely lucky to see this - my daughter and I were out walking the dogs when we just happened to look up and see it - really beautiful sight, and the first time ever I have witnessed something like this. Sadly, i didn't even have my phone with me, never mind a camera, so no pix, and herself was in the caravan and missed it entirely. :(

Oh well, there's always next time! :)

DM

Total overcast here. No moon occlusion for me.

The clouds moved out right at the tail end. For those that missed it there's suppose to be another one in August

Fussy and I got a perfect view out of our bathroom window, so before and after Little Moo's last feed of the night we had a lovely long look at it - really beautiful. Amazing to see the shadow of your own planet - very humbling.

:( tonight would have been great, we're cloudless.

I got to see the last part of it. I just happened to catch a mention of it on the radio as I was doing dishes. I usually have more of a notice than that. Dunno what happened this time but it caught me by surprise.