Share your photos of the lunar eclipse
I can't remember the last time I saw a lunar eclipse. Maybe never. I don't know. But I do remember viewing a total eclipse of the sun when I was about 5 years old. I spied it outside my living room window through sheer curtains since my mother wouldn't let me go outside to look at it directly. Solar eclipses are usually big-time events, with people capitalizing on memorabilia and those little cardboard eyeglasses with pinholes poked through them for safe viewing.
Lunar eclipses aren't as noteworthy, probably because they aren't as rare. Plus, they're safe to look at. We had two last year. But the one enroute to us tonight will be the last until December 10, 2010, so I'm going to make a point of seeing it.
It's going to be extra special because Saturn and the bright star Regulus will line up to form a perfect triangle with the moon. Jack Horkheimer, of PBS' "Star Gazer," called it "the moon, the lord of the rings and heart of the lion eclipse," so I'm hoping the snow flurries in the forecast don't interfere with my view of the big event.
Though the moon will be blocked by the earth's shadow, don't think there'll be nothing to see. A total lunar eclipse can put on quite a show. Dramatic colors from bright orange to bright red and dark brown -- even shards of dark grey -- could peek out. The event will develop gradually, beginning at 8:43 p.m.
Usually, I'm all tucked into bed by 9:00. But I'll be out in the garden looking skyward at 10:01. The moon will be totally eclipsed from then until 10:51. Make some hot cocoa and let the kids stay up late. They'll always remember it.
Here's a really cool interactive simulation of tonight's eclipse for you to play with
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What is an eclipse of the Moon? What causes eclipses and why? How often do eclipses happen and when is the next eclipse of the Moon? You'll learn the answers to these questions and more in MrEclipse's primer on lunar eclipses.
The Moon is a cold, rocky body about 2,160 miles (3,476 km) in diameter. It has no light of its own but shines by sunlight reflected from its surface. The Moon orbits Earth about once every 29 and a half days. As it circles our planet, the changing position of the Moon with respect to the Sun causes our natural satellite to cycle through a series of phases:
New Moon > New Crescent > First Quarter > Waxing Gibbous> Full Moon >
Waning Gibbous > Last Quarter > Old Crescent > New Moon (again)
Phases of the Moon.
The phase known as New Moon can not actually be seen because the illuminated side of the Moon is then pointed away from Earth. The rest of the phases are familiar to all of us as the Moon cycles through them month after month. Did you realize that the word month is derived from the Moon's 29.5 day period?
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.
Geometry of the Sun, Earth and Moon During an Eclipse of the Moon
Earth's two shadows are the penumbra and the umbra.
(Sizes and distances not to scale)
Types of Lunar 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 Earth's shadow. That 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.
Astronomers recognize three basic types of lunar eclipses:
1. Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
The Moon passes through Earth's penumbral shadow.
These events are of only academic interest because they are subtle and hard to observe.
(click for photo example)
2. Partial Lunar Eclipse
A portion of the Moon passes through Earth's umbral shadow.
These events are easy to see, even with the unaided eye.
(click for photo example)
3. Total Lunar Eclipse
The entire Moon passes through Earth's umbral shadow.
These events are quite striking due to the Moon's vibrant red color during the total phase (totality).
(click for photo example)
Now you might be wondering "If the Moon orbits Earth every 29.5 days and lunar eclipses only occur at Full Moon, then why don't we have an eclipse once a month during Full Moon?". I'm glad you asked! You see, the Moon's orbit around Earth is actually tipped about 5 degrees to Earth's orbit around the Sun. This means that the Moon spends most of the time either above or below the plane of Earth's orbit. And the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun is important because Earth's shadows lie exactly in the same plane. During Full Moon, our natural satellite usually passes above or below Earth's shadows and misses them entirely. No eclipse takes place. But two to four times each year, the Moon passes through some portion of the Earth's penumbral or umbral shadows and one of the above three types of eclipses occurs.
When an eclipse of the Moon takes place, everyone on the night side of Earth can see it. About 35% of all eclipses are of the penumbral type which are very difficult to detect, even with a telescope. Another 30% are partial eclipses which are easy to see with the unaided eye. The final 35% or so are total eclipses, and these are quite extrordinary events to behold.
What is the difference between a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse? A solar eclipse is an eclipse of the Sun. It happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. This is only possible when the Moon is in the New Moon phase. For more information, see Solar Eclipses for Beginners.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 27-28
Beginning (right), middle (center) and end (left) of totality
(click to see photo gallery)
Why is the Moon Red During a Total Lunar Eclipse?
During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth blocks the Sun's light from reaching the Moon. Astronauts on the Moon would then see the Earth copletely eclipse the Sun. (They would see a bright red ring around the Earth as they watched all the sunrises and sunsets happening simultaneousely around the world!) While the Moon remains completely within Earth's umbral shadow, indirect sunlight still manages to reach and illuminate it. However, this sunlight must first pass deep through the Earth's atmosphere which filters out most of the blue colored light. The remaining light is a deep red or orange in color and is much dimmer than pure white sunlight. Earth's atmosphere also bends or refracts some of this light so that a small fraction of it can reach and illuminate the Moon.
The total phase of a lunar eclipse is so interesting and beautiful precisely because of the filtering and refracting effect of Earth's atmosphere. If the Earth had no atmosphere, then the Moon would be completely black during a total eclipse. Instead, the Moon can take on a range of colors from dark brown and red to bright orange and yellow. The exact appearance depends on how much dust and clouds are present in Earth's atmosphere. Total eclipses tend to be very dark after major volcanic eruptions since these events dump large amounts of volcanic ash into Earth's atmosphere. During the total lunar eclipse of December 1992, dust from Mount Pinatubo rendered the Moon nearly invisible.
All total eclipses start with a penumbral followed by a partial eclipse, and end with a partial followed by a penumbral eclipse (the total eclipse is sandwiched in the middle). The penumbral phases of the eclipse are quite difficult to see, even with a telescope. However, partial and total eclipses are easy to observe, even with the naked eye.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 20-21
Beginning (right), middle (center) and end (left) of totality
(click to see more photos)
Observing Lunar Eclipses
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch. You don't need any kind of protective filters. It isn't even necessary to use a telescope. You can watch the lunar eclipse with nothing more than your own two eyes. If you have a pair of binoculars, they will help magnify the view and will make the red coloration brighter and easier to see. A standard pair of 7x35 or 7x50 binoculars work fine. Remember to dress warmly and enjoy the spectacle!
Amateur astronomers can actually make some useful observations during total eclipses. It's impossible to predict exactly how dark the Moon will appear during totality. The color can also vary from dark gray or brown, through a range of shades of red and bright orange. The color and brightness depend on the amount of dust in Earth's atmosphere during the eclipse. Using the Danjon Brightness Scale for lunar eclipses, amateurs can categorize the Moon's color and brightness during totality.
Another useful amateur activity requires a telescope. Using a standard list lunar craters, one can careful measure the exact time when each crater enters and leaves the umbral shadow. These crater timings can be used to estimate the enlargement of Earth's atmosphere due to airborne dust and volcanic ash.
Of course, an eclipse of the Moon also presents a tempting target to photograph. Fortunately, lunar eclipse photography is easy provided that you have the right equipment and use it correctly. See MrEclipse's Picks for camera, lens and tripod recommendations. For more photographs taken during previous lunar eclipses, be sure to visit Lunar Eclipse Photo Gallery.
Lunar Eclipse Frequency and Future Eclipses
I live in Toronto Ontario, so when will I be able to see the lunar eclips? I missed the last one :o( overcast sky.
Tx
awesome..im going to stay up late at night!!..and take pics..
Hey, Tom!
The times listed here are EST, and if I'm not mistaken, they're the same in Toronto. Enjoy!
-- Jessica
where should i look to see saturn? i have a telescope and i live about 60 miles west of Chicago.
wll be ale to see the eclpse tonight without getting blind
I see it, Awesome!
I LOVE the Moon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it Was just completly covered!!!!!!!!! yeah!!!!
What way do i look to see it???????
The cardboard "eyeglasses" you mention are not meant to actually be eyeglasses. It would be unsafe to hold them up to your eyes and look at the sun.
They are meant to be a projector. Sunlight goes through the pinhole and projects a picture of the solar eclipse onto the ground, a wall, a sheet of white paper.
Hey,
I was watching the lunar eclipse tonite and my opinion is... to me it didnt turn red like it was suppose too... that got me a lil ticked... but i got pics... its kewel (cool)
Hey,
I was watching the lunar eclipse tonite and my opinion is... to me it didnt turn red like it was suppose too... that got me a lil ticked... but i got pics... its kewel (cool)
I live in INDIA ( Bangalore), so when will I be able to see the lunar eclips?
Hey Jessica! Remember me?!? Of course you do!
We saw the eclipse down here in South Carolina last night and it was amazing! So clear! We actually saw it changing from partially covered to fully covered, and right away, it seemed, started to become uncovered.
The colors were awesome - it looked like a little ball you could just reach up and grab!
I hope you are doing well....
how do you now that you saw the liunar eclipse at 5 years old do you now why the moon is a dark red instead of bright white ?
Hi. Tina.
I know I saw it because I remember it. But it wasn't the lunar eclipse I saw back then -- it was the solar eclipse.
Anyway, the colors you saw last night were a consequence of the sun being lined up directly with the moon. Its light was peeking out from behind. The effect is similar to what happens every day when the sun rises and sets.
hey. can the lunar eclipse make you blind? if you just look at it with your own two eyes.
You welcome to view what we seen of the Full Lunar Eclipse at our web site. Click on, on the left side bar, Lunar Eclipse. Photographs were taken in Central New York last evening.
that is what it looked like last night
i didnt get to see it this time, it was so cloudy. i live in saratoga, CA. i saw the last one though, :)
Someone told me that the pollution in our atmosphere is what causes the red color, is that true?
Hey, Erika!
No, not at all. The colors are similar to those of a sunset.
--Jessica
omg! that is so cool. eclipse is a cool word.
::waves at Mark and Jessica::
Here in Ohio I got to see the very beginning of the eclipse, then the clouds rolled in. I was very upset, but it cleared up just in time to see the total eclipse. Awesome! I kept running outside to see more (I was busy working at the time, you see *cough*cough*).
I hope you're both doing well! I'm getting ready for the spring planting season, Jessica. Wish me luck!
man i really wish i could've seen it, i heard ALOT about it and it seemed like it was goign to b so kool!!!!! and what was even weirder is that i just finished a book called Eclipse and it was so awesome and so i just thought that was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WEIRD!!!!! but i am really sad that i didn't get to see the eclipse.
My teacher said there was a strip of yellow about 1cm thick on the side of eclipse. It was when half of the moon was white and the other red and there was a yellow strip on the side.
What could that be???
Hey Barbara!
Thanks for popping in! Watch out for those wildflowers! They're really weeds, you know. Regards to Terry! -- Jessica
LOL, Jessica!
No wildflower planting for me ... I learned my lesson from you! :-)