Don't Miss Total lunar eclipse- Feb 20th!

Awauphi

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Although this is the third total eclipse in the past 12 months, it's the first visible from all of North America. The previous two favored only half the continent. As a bonus this time, golden Saturn lies near the eclipsed Moon.

Understanding what causes a lunar eclipse is easy once you grasp the three-dimensional arrangement of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. The Sun radiates lots of light throughout the inner solar system, and our opaque planet casts a shadow into space. Typically, a Full Moon passes untouched to the north or south of this shadow, but not so this month. The Moon plows right into the shadow, where direct sunlight can't reach.

Earth's dark shadow creeps across the lunar surface starting at 8:43 P.M. Eastern Standard Time February 20. Along the East Coast, the Moon already stands more than 30° high in the dark eastern sky then. For West Coast observers, the Moon rises minutes after the partial eclipse begins, just as the Sun sets. If you're on a hilltop with a clear view of both the western and eastern horizons, you might get a unique opportunity to briefly see both the Sun and eclipsed Moon.

Earth's shadow takes 78 minutes to envelop the Moon completely. Once totality starts, our orbiting companion takes on a reddish-orange hue. The Moon isn't totally dark because sunlight sneaks through Earth's atmosphere, which acts like a lens and bends red rays into the shadow. This bathes the lunar surface in an eerie ruddy light. The shadow's darkness depends largely on the amount of dust in Earth's atmosphere - the more dust, the darker the Moon appears.

As totality progresses and the sky grows darker, the surrounding stars of Leo the Lion pop into view. The constellation's brightest star, Regulus, appears just 3° above the eclipsed Moon.

Meanwhile, Saturn lies 4° to the Moon's lower left. Notice the Moon and Saturn edging closer as the eclipse advances. When the eclipse begins, they lie 4.4° apart; by eclipse end, the gap is down to 3.5°.

Look at the subtle colors across the totally eclipsed Moon. The northern limb should appear darker than the southern limb because it lies deeper in Earth's shadow. Take photographs, either through a telescope or with a camera on a tripod. If you want to capture a wide-field view, try to include interesting foreground objects.

Totality lasts 51 minutes, wrapping up at 10:52 P.M. EST. The Moon then leaves the shadow over the following 78 minutes.

Make the effort to see this total lunar eclipse - the next one won't come until December 20/21, 2010.

Got this via email from Astronomy Newsletter- Astronomy.com :)

Don't miss this! Happy Clear sky!!! :fingersx:

Viewer's Guide: Total Lunar Eclipse Feb. 20 go to the link- SPACE.com -- Viewer's Guide: Total Lunar Eclipse Feb. 20
 
Aw, thanks for the update, I always love looking at the sky! Thanks for the reminder about it. Hugs!
 
Thank you for sharing, I guess it depends on weather. Hopefully I get a clear sky that night. Maybe I should bring my telescope as well.
 
DOUBLE FLYBY- ISS and Atlantis

Aw, thanks for the update, I always love looking at the sky! Thanks for the reminder about it. Hugs!


NO plm...:) same here love to look at the sky... :cool:

Thank you for sharing, I guess it depends on weather. Hopefully I get a clear sky that night. Maybe I should bring my telescope as well.


You're welcome! :) yeah i hope we will have clear sky here too..Lets pray!:)

its been cloudy and raining the last few days... so i know the feeling..sigh.. :)


speaking of DOUBLE FLYBY: If all goes according to plan, space shuttle Atlantis will undock from the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday morning, Feb. 18th, at approximately 4:30 am EST.

This is good news for sky watchers across North America who will be able to witness a rare double flyby on Monday evening. Atlantis and the ISS will appear as a tight pair of lights, as bright as Jupiter or Venus, gliding in tandem across the twilight sky--an unforgettable sight.

Favored cities include Los Angeles, New Orleans, Dallas, Jackson (MS), Pensacola, Philadelphia, Reno, San Diego and others. Double flybys continue on Tuesday, Feb 19th, albeit not as tight because the shuttle will be moving away from the ISS as it prepares to land on Wednesday, Feb. 20th.

look for flyby timetables at Heavens Above (Welcome to Heavens-Above).
 
The most excellent it can been at Eastern of North America
While Central and rest other aren't much to see but bit.
 
TONIGHT!!!!!!!! :dance2: I hope the cloud move its ass outta so I can see it! :giggle:
 
HELL YEAH! I see it now. :D:D:D

It's beautiful. I'd seen it twice times now.
 
I missed it due to the winds and rain that were here.
 
You can see it, Mann_K05? It's 21st down here and it is already daylight :(
 
If you stare at it too long You'll change into a vampire like Vampy. :Ohno:
 
You can see it, Mann_K05? It's 21st down here and it is already daylight :(

Aw, I'm sorry about that. Im sure that you will see it someday. :)

Yep. I can see it.

Right now.. It's completed esplised, no white glow on it.
I can tell there is a little red glow on the bottom and the top of the moon and the center is brownish orange.
 
:lol: -chuckles-

I think I see a little orange glow on it, right there. Or it's just my imagnary. Mmm..
 
*locking my doors and windows* :run:

*Whispers*...I think she is guarding her window and awaiting for a meal from any AD'ers who goes closer to her. Better run and hide until daylight :run:
 
DAMN F*CKING CLOUDS!!! Get lost cuz I wanna to see it! GRRRRRRRRR! So meaning I have to wait till 2010! Stupid weather and I hate snow!
 
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