Total Lunar Eclipse March 3

Muad Dib · Feb 10, 2007

Plan Ahead: Total Lunar Eclipse March 3

By Joe Rao
SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist
posted: 09 February 2007
06:07 am ET

Soon after sunset on Saturday evening, March 3, skywatchers in eastern North America can watch the rising full Moon undergoing its first total eclipse in nearly 2-½ years.

In Europe and Africa the eclipse takes place late at night high in a dark sky.

For North Americans, the farther east you are the better. The eclipse will already be in progress when the Sun sets and the Moon rises, two events that happen almost simultaneously on a lunar eclipse night.

Images: The Moon / Eclipse 2003 / Eclipse 2004
In New England and the Canadian Maritime Provinces the Moon rises before total eclipse begins; be on the watch for a thinning sliver of the Moon’s edge coming up just above the eastern horizon. Across much of the eastern United States, the Moon rises during totality. In this region, depending on just how clear your eastern sky is on eclipse evening, you might have to wait a half-hur or more after the Moon rises, since the twilight sky will still be quite bright and the full Moon will be shining 1/10,000 to 1/100,000 as bright as it normally would; you’ll be hunting for a dim ball.

Across the Midwest, and the Plains States totality has already ended by moonrise and the eclipse is partial as the Moon emerges from the Earth’s shadow. In the Rocky Mountain States, only a vague hint of the eclipse may be evident in the form of a tarnishing or smudginess on the Moon’s disk. This will be the faint outer shadow of the Earth (the penumbra); it may give the appearance that the “Man in the Moon” has a bruise over his left eye. Meanwhile, the West Coast misses out entirely.

The Moon will track across the northern portion of the Earth’s shadow, and will be completely immersed for one-hour and 14 minutes, making this a somewhat longer than normal totality.

Because some of the sunlight that strikes our Earth is diffused and scattered by our atmosphere, its shadow is not completely dark; enough of this light reaches the Moon to give it an eerie coppery glow even when it’s totally eclipsed. It is anticipated that during the upcoming total eclipse the Moon will glow brightest across its upper portion, while its lower part (closest to the center of the shadow) will appear a darker shade of brown or chocolate color.

This will be the first of two total lunar eclipses in 2007, the other occurring on Aug. 27 will favor western North America and the Pacific Rim.

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Sounds like a good time for me and Marso to set up our mighty fine Meade telescopes.

Muad Dib · Feb 11, 2007

Dan Leach agrees: and me!!
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Yeah, I thought about you after I posted the thread. Your astronomy pics are damned good. Keep up the good work.

Your location may be a factor in this eclipse. It will be starting about the time the Moon sets for you. It starts for the east coast of the US as the Moon rises. Marso won't be in the best location, either.

Dan Leach · Feb 11, 2007

Muad Dib said: ↑

Dan Leach agrees: and me!!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I thought about you after I posted the thread. Your astronomy pics are damned good. Keep up the good work.

Your location may be a factor in this eclipse. It will be starting about the time the Moon sets for you. It starts for the east coast of the US as the Moon rises. Marso won't be in the best location, either.
Click to expand...

I think it might be too late at night for me

Dan Leach · Feb 11, 2007

Dan Leach said: ↑

Muad Dib said: ↑

Dan Leach agrees: and me!!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I thought about you after I posted the thread. Your astronomy pics are damned good. Keep up the good work.

Your location may be a factor in this eclipse. It will be starting about the time the Moon sets for you. It starts for the east coast of the US as the Moon rises. Marso won't be in the best location, either.
Click to expand...

I think it might be too late at night for me
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Actualy no, according to starry night it will happen 9 or 10 ish
Cool, ill try and get some pics

Chuck · Feb 11, 2007

I won't get to see much of it since I'm in Arizona.

Oh well---next time.

Order2Chaos · Feb 12, 2007

Damn... west coast misses out entirely. Oh well. When is/was the solar eclipse?

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Total Lunar Eclipse March 3

Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

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Total Lunar Eclipse March 3

Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

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Chuck Go Giants!

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