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Author
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Topic: Total Lunar Eclipse on Winter Solstice 2010
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-19-2010 10:05 AM
   
Source: NASA Total Lunar Eclipse on December 21, 2010Early in the morning on December 21 a total lunar eclipse will be visible to sky watchers across North America (for observers in western states the eclipse actually begins late in the evening of December 20), Greenland and Iceland. Viewers in Western Europe will be able to see the beginning stages of the eclipse before moonset, and in western Asia the later stages of the eclipse will be visible after moonrise. From beginning to end, the eclipse will last about three hours and twenty-eight minutes. For observers on the east coast of the U.S. the eclipse lasts from 1:33 a.m. EST through 5:01 a.m. EST. Viewers on the west coast will be able to tune in a bit earlier. For them the eclipse begins at 10:33 p.m. PST on December 20 and lasts until 2:01 a.m. PST on Dec. 21. Totality, the time when Earth's shadow completely covers the moon, will last a lengthy 72 minutes. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-19-2010 10:08 AM
NASA release NASA Announces Lineup For Total Eclipse Of The MoonNASA has planned various ways to help the public enjoy the total lunar eclipse on the night of Dec. 20 to 21. Astronomers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., will host a pair of live web chats to answer questions and help make the rare celestial experience one to remember. Marshall Center astronomer Rob Suggs will hold the first chat from 4 - 5 p.m. EST on Dec. 20 and discuss the best ways to view the eclipse. From 12 a.m. - 5 a.m., Marshall researcher Mitzi Adams will answer questions as the eclipse passes across the continental United States. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif., has set up a lunar eclipse Flickr group for those who want to share or view photos of the eclipsed moon. NASA will choose one photographer to have his or her work featured as official JPL wallpaper on their website. JPL also is hosting the "I'm There: Lunar Eclipse" text campaign to connect people who are watching the eclipse in the same area and to provide them with tips on viewing the phenomenon. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-19-2010 12:49 PM
Hmmm. I'm well used to total lunar eclipses being blocked by a layer of cloud, but this one is going to be blocked from my view by the whole ruddy planet. Bah! Humbug! |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 12-20-2010 05:33 PM
Seattle won't be participating in this eclipse. Grrrr... |
nojnj
Member Posts: 503
From: Highland Heights, KY
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 12-20-2010 05:42 PM
No eclipse here either! We will have some snow, sleet and ending in some rain.  |
nojnj
Member Posts: 503
From: Highland Heights, KY
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 12-20-2010 07:35 PM
Coincidentally this lunar eclipse of December 21 falls on the date of the solstice. Astronomers Without Borders has two events organized for this: For those who are located in an area where Lunar Eclipse is not visible, we have astrocasters LIVE webcasting the lunar eclipse from several locations. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-21-2010 01:18 AM
A few wispy clouds, but still a nice view from here in Houston... On edit: Posted too soon; formerly wispy clouds over Houston have grown into moving, but more solid cloud cover. Glimpses through breaks but poor for photos. On edit of edit: Not a great shot, but a few seconds-long break in the clouds...  |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 12-21-2010 02:10 AM
Here are my photos. It's my first time doing anything like this. I had to experiment with the shutter speed but overall, I didn't do that bad. Next time I will have warmer clothes and a tripod. All of these were done with manual focus. |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 12-21-2010 02:43 AM
Alas I couldn't see anything due to the snow!! |
Lunar rock nut
Member Posts: 911
From: Oklahoma city, Oklahoma U.S.A.
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 12-21-2010 07:03 AM
We had some cirrus clouds here in Oklahoma which gave a rather opaque view. The effect was darker and not as red as others I have seen. If you ever get a chance to see a total or annular solar eclipse go for it even if you have to drive some distance to do so. My family and I were able to do so with the May 10th 1994 Annular Eclipse. We drove about 60 miles N.W. of Oklahoma City to place ourselves in the path of totality. Much quicker and more dramatic effects such as rapid temperature drop,twilight effect overhead and around the entire horizon plus seeing stars in the daytime. It took only about an hour with 5 to 6 minutes of totality. I equate that event right up there with the Apollo 15 launch I witnessed. Lunar eclipses are about as exciting as watching a snail cross your porch. |
David Bryant
Member Posts: 986
From: Norfolk UK
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 12-21-2010 08:01 AM
Linda and I had good views from the A11 during a snowy journey home to Norfolk! |
jasonelam
Member Posts: 691
From: Monticello, KY USA
Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 12-21-2010 08:08 AM
Nothing but clouds in Monticello . Thanks for all the great pictures that everyone sent in. Looks like it was a great show!  |
mikepf
Member Posts: 441
From: San Jose, California, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 12-21-2010 03:16 PM
It was a bit frustrating here in San Jose, California. The sky was cloudy where the moon was, but there were a remarkable number of fairly large clear areas where the moon wasn't. They all seemed to pass to either side of the moon, as if on purpose! I was able to see the moon for a second or two at a time. Even so, it was very impressive. |
AstroAutos
Member Posts: 803
From: Co. Monaghan, Republic of Ireland
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 12-22-2010 01:36 PM
Between 7.00 and 8am on Tuesday morning from our home here in Ireland I had a nice view of the Earth's shadow slowly making it's way across the Moon - only saw about 10 minutes of the Moon being in total darkness but it sure was a magnificent sight! |
Space Emblem Art
Member Posts: 194
From: Citrus Heights, CA - USA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 12-22-2010 06:01 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mikepf:
It was a bit frustrating here in San Jose, California.
Mike, you should have come over to Citrus Heights (about 140 mi. away)-suburban Sacramento, CA for those not familiar with my city. I kind of feel guilty, but here the sky was absolutely crystal clear for the lunar show, however, our rain earlier in the evening made it unpleasantly damp and cold to stay out for the entire eclipse. |
mdmyer
Member Posts: 900
From: Humboldt KS USA
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted 12-23-2010 06:49 AM
Here is a slide show of my photos.
Just click on the icon at the upper right hand corner of the first photo. That icon looks like a cherry on a stem. Then click the center triangle at the top of the new page to start the show. Photos change every 5 seconds. |
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