Prime Time Lunar Eclipse

Do you think you would notice if the Full Moon practically disappeared one night? Well, we'll have an opportunity to explore that idea on the night of October 27-28, as the Full Hunter's Moon slides deep into the Earth's shadow. Yes, we are again fortunate to be ideally situated to observe another total lunar eclipse in its entirety. Let's hope for some clear skies, because this is the last total lunar eclipse until August 28, 2007.

I consider this lunar eclipse a "prime time" event since totality concludes before midnight. As commuters drive home from work on the night of October 27, they won't be able to miss the Full Hunter's Moon rising in the east. Our desolate neighbor will bathe the landscape in eerie reflected sunlight.

But, if those same folks ventured outside later in the evening would they wonder what had happened to the bright Full Moon? Well, if you keep on reading this article you won't be left in the dark as to the Moon's whereabouts.

To refresh everyone's memory, a total eclipse of the Moon occurs when the Sun, Earth and Moon are nearly in a straight line. With the Earth in the middle of this celestial configuration, our planet's shadow will sweep across the lunar surface. It's like compressing an entire month's moon phase cycle into one evening.

The eclipse begins at 8:06 pm on the 27th and ends at 2:03 am on the 28th for a duration of 5 hours and 57 minutes. All times listed are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). You don't necessarily have to watch the entire eclipse to be impressed with the beauty of this event. Don't have much free time? Just watch through the end of totality. After that it's anti-climatic anyway. To help you plan your evening, the following narrative highlights the times when significant phases of the eclipse will occur.

The Moon enters the Earth's faint shadow called the penumbra at 8:06 pm and the eclipse begins. The penumbra is so dim that the Moon's "first contact" with it cannot be seen. Only as the Moon slides deeper into the shadow will a keen-eyed observer see a subtle shading of the lunar surface. Just prior to the Moon entering the Earth's dark umbral shadow one should notice that the moonlight looks somewhat subdued.

At 9:14 pm the Moon encounters the dark umbral shadow of the Earth. The Moon will be moving eastward in our sky when it encounters the Earth's shadow. Therefore, watch for the shadow to sweep across the lunar surface from left to right. By the time the Moon is more than halfway through the umbra we should be able to tell if this is going to be a dark eclipse or a bright one.

Since there are no major volcanic eruptions spewing copious amounts of dust into our atmosphere to darken the eclipse, I suspect the Moon will remain visible even during mid-totality. And since the Moon will be well within the Earth's dark shadow, it should present a collage of yellow and orange hues to the observer, but without the bright ring of light that moved around the edge of the lunar disk in May and November 2003. The umbral shadow completely envelopes the Moon at 10:23 pm. That's the moment when totality begins.

Totality will last for one hour and twenty-two minutes. That's almost one hour longer than last November's eclipse. This scenario will give an observer plenty of time to scan the Moon's colorful surface. Totality will be so long that I've actually seen folks get bored during similar eclipses. Even during the darkest eclipses that I've observed, a telescope will still reveal some rusty browns or reds on our lunar neighbor. Mid-totality occurs at 11:04 pm. Forty-one minutes later a sliver of brightness marks the end of totality at 11:45 pm as the Earth and Moon move out of alignment and sunlight once again strikes the lunar surface.

The partial phase will last until 12:45 am. At that time the dark umbral shadow will leave the Moon's surface. Soon thereafter, like the beginning of the eclipse, the remaining phase will hardly be noticeable at all as the Moon begins to return to full brightness. For an hour and eighteen minutes, until 2:03 am when the eclipse ends, the Moon will remain within the lighter penumbral shadow. Only while the Moon is still deep within the penumbral shadow will the lunar surface appear in subdued light.

If you have binoculars or a telescope, this event is the time to put them to good use. The more optical aid an observer uses, the more detail one will discern. Even if you don't have access to expensive equipment don't despair. Mother Nature provided you with a pair of the most valuable observing tools - your eyes! Use them to follow the progress of this beautiful event.

Skyscrapers, Inc. cordially invites you to Seagrave Observatory to observe this total lunar eclipse. All our society's instruments will be available to watch the progress of this astronomical event. Our members may also bring their own telescopes and binoculars to share the view with you. Parking is limited, so plan accordingly. Once the lot is full, we will have to turn folks away. No parking is permitted on Peeptoad Road.

If the weather is favorable make every effort to observe this beautiful celestial show. The next one is more than two and a half years away, so make the best of this upcoming opportunity.

Good luck, keep your eyes to the skies, and hope to see you at Seagrave Observatory on the night of October 27-28.

And remember, Seagrave Observatory is also open every Saturday night for your viewing pleasure, weather permitting of course. Visit us at http://www.theskyscrapers.org for information.