Total Lunar Eclipse Tonight

BaconZombie · 20-02-2008 4:28pm #1

Not only is it a Wednesday which causes ALL the crazy to come out but there is also a total lunar Eclipse......

A total eclipse of the moon tonight is expected to delight skywatchers across the United States and much of the world.

It will be the last total lunar eclipse until 2010.

http://www.livescience.com/space/scienceastronomy/080220-eclipse-news.html

The eclipse begins at 12:35am on the morning of the 21st. (night of 20th/21th). This is the time when the Moon enters the penumbral shadow. Shortly afterwards the lower left of the Moon begins to noticeably darken. The Moon then enters the umbral shadow at 1:43am. The eclipse progresses until exactly 3:00am. At this time the Moon is completely inside the umbral shadow and the total phase of this eclipse begins. 'Totality' continues for some 51 minutes until the Moon begins to emerge from the umbra at 3:51am. Mid eclipse occurs at 3:26am. The Moon is now as dark as it will get. At 5:09am the Moon has now left the umbra and the eclipse ends at 6:17am just as twilight is breaking.

http://www.astronomy.ie/eclipse08.html

biko · 20-02-2008 4:29pm

Damn, now I have that "Total eclipse of my heart" going in my head.

the dee · 20-02-2008 4:36pm

Will you be able to see it from Ireland? The article only says US.

BaconZombie · 20-02-2008 4:40pm

Yes,

The 2nd half of my post is from an Irish site....
The eclipse begins at 12:35am on the morning of the 21st. (night of 20th/21th).

the dee wrote: »

Will you be able to see it from Ireland? The article only says US.

AlmightyCushion · 20-02-2008 4:47pm

It will be the last total lunar eclipse until 2010.

That's only two years away. It's not that big a deal.

FunkZ · 20-02-2008 5:01pm

Was there not one of these about two or three weeks ago?

ScumLord · 20-02-2008 5:04pm

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

That's only two years away. It's not that big a deal.

But we could all step out in front of a bus tomorrow and be killed. Live for the moment!

mike65 · 20-02-2008 5:07pm

Why do they always stage these events so late?

Mike.

AlmightyCushion · 20-02-2008 5:26pm

ScumLord wrote: »

But we could all step out in front of a bus tomorrow and be killed. Live for the moment!

You obviously haven't seen those ads with the hedgehogs. Stop, look, listen, don't end up roadkill.

Dave! · 20-02-2008 5:28pm

Remember the golden rule: Always look directly at the eclipse! If you look away from it, you go blind. Something like that.

Terry · 20-02-2008 8:29pm

mike65 wrote: »

Why do they always stage these events so late?

Mike.

It's a bitch alright.
On the plus side, the full eclipse starts at 3am. Just in time ofr the back up.

antodeco · 20-02-2008 9:03pm

Generally I wait until the morning before I cant see the moon anymore. Either that or just wait for some heavy cloud cover...

Plus, its the last one till 2010? Its 2005 now, so woohoo only another 5 mins..

Thirdfox · 20-02-2008 9:22pm

For Ireland it is the last one until 2016 apparently (Eircom news page?)

The moon should go a dull red colour as it crosses the shadow of the Earth.

3:01-3:51 is when total eclipse will occur in Ireland - I just hope the cloud cover clears before then!

Terry · 20-02-2008 9:34pm

Is it cloudy outside?
I haven't looked in a few days.

20-02-2008 9:37pm

Terry wrote: »

Is it cloudy outside?
I haven't looked in a few days.

I cant see. Its too dark.

doonothing · 20-02-2008 9:43pm

What a night! B*witched, Sash, 2unlimited and a lunar eclipse! My night is set

Terry · 20-02-2008 10:03pm

doonothing wrote: »

What a night! B*witched, Sash, 2unlimited and a lunar eclipse! My night is set

Balls.
I was out a few minutes ago and forgot to look.

Jello · 20-02-2008 10:08pm

A bit cloudy out now, though it doesn't look too promising for the night.

From met.ie:

...thickening cloud and freshening southwest winds will bring outbreaks of rain into the west and north early tonight and to remaining areas overnight. The rain will be persistent or heavy at times in the west and north but lighter and more patchy in parts of the east and south.