Solstice Lunar Eclipse

Dec. 17, 2010:? Everyone knows that "the moon on the breast snow of the shimmer of lunch to objects below are fresh-fallen snow."

That is, with the exception of a lunar eclipse.

The chandeliers are a bit "off" on 21 December, the first day of the northern winter, as the full moon passes through Earth's shadow almost dead center. For 72 minutes of eerie totality, is a yellow light on the snow of North America, playing landscapes in an unusual State of Crimson shadows cast.

The Eclipse starts on Tuesday morning, 21 Dec., at 1:33 pm EST (Monday, December 20th, at 10:33 pm PST). At this time, Umbra appears as dark red bite on the edge of the lunar disk. It takes to extend about an hour for the "bite" and to swallow the entire moon. Totality begins at 02:41 pm EST (11:41 pm PST) and lasts for 72 minutes.

If you are planning for stroke, only a short Blick-- it is December, after all-- choose this moment: 03:17 pm EST (17 minutes to midnight PST). That is, if the moon be in the deepest shadows, view the magnificent coppery red tones.

Why speech?

A quick trip to the Moon provides the answer: they make up a dusty lunar level in the sky look. Overhead depends on Earth, Nightside, completely hide the sun behind it. The Eclipse is underway. You could expect earth be so completely dark, but it is not. The rim of the planet is on fire! How your eye on Earth volume scanning, see you every Sunrise and everyone in the world, all at once. This incredible light shines in the heart of the Earth's shadow, filled to transform it with a coppery Sheen and the moon into a large red ball.

Back on Earth, the mirrored Moon is newly fallen snow with unknown color-not much glare, but lots beauty.

Enjoy the show.

Author: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA

Chances (updated): This Lunar Eclipse is on the date of the northern winter solstice. How rare is that? Total lunar eclipses in the northern winter are common. Three of them were alone in the last ten years. A Lunar Eclipse smack-DAB on the date of the Solstice is however unusual. Geoff Chester from the US Naval Observatory checks a list of eclipses 2000 years. "Since 1 year, I fit only one previous instance of an Eclipse can find calendar at the same time as the Solstice, and this is DEC 21, 1638" Chester says. "Fortunately we don't have to wait..." "372 Years for the next one, who will be 21 on 2094 DEC"

Solar and Mondfinsternisse--NASA home page

Shadow and substance-an animated map of the Lunar Eclipse Solstice you find under

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