This morning before dawn the nearly full Moon was shining brightly on my bedroom wall. Saturday morning the same thing will happen if the sky is clear. In addition, it will be a full moon and total lunar eclipse. This diary is a brief reminder of when and where to look. The western ½ of the country will have the best views. The east coast will not see the eclipse. |
Where to Look
Before sunrise look to the west northwest for the full moon. It will be low on the horizon as it approaches moonset.
When to Look
If you live in the central time zone, partial eclipse begins at 6:45 am. The moon will set before it reaches totality for the central time zone.
If you live in the mountain and pacific time zones, partial eclipse begins at 5:45 and 4:45 am respectively. Total eclipse begins at 7:05 and 6:05 am respectively.
More details are available from this Sky and Telescope magazine article for reference.
The View From the Moon
Orbiting 31 miles above the lunar surface, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft will get a "front-row seat" to the total lunar eclipse. Visit the linked article for a brief video of less than 2 min. explaining this LRO view and what they hope to study.
LRO's Diviner instrument will record how quickly targeted areas on the moon's day side cool off during the eclipse. The degree of cooling is dependent on factors such as how rocky the surface is, how densely packed the soil is, and its mineral composition. By studying the lunar surface during the eclipse, scientists can learn even more about our nearest celestial neighbor.
For those of you who have questions about how a lunar eclipse comes about, the NASA article above also has a second brief video of less than 2 min. explaining the phenomenon. As with most NASA products, it is extremely well done and informative in a short amount of time.
How to Prepare
There is no danger to your eyes with a lunar eclipse. Naked eye viewing, or binoculars, is all you need. Check your local weather for sky conditions, set your alarm if needed, brew a pot of coffee, and enjoy one of nature's beautiful events. According to the Sky and Telescope article above, North America will not have another total lunar eclipse until 2014.
Enjoy