A total lunar eclipse will happen tonight - it'll be 3 years before it will happen again. Might want to step outside for a few to check it out.
Hope to be able to see it here in California but with the rain and clouds we've had for day and days to come might prevent that :'(
The Moon has not been blotted out by the shadow of the earth for 372 years. The last time this happened was in 1638 !!!!!!
Here's a link that explains it a little better http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/12/20/total-lunar-eclipse-monday-night/ (http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/12/20/total-lunar-eclipse-monday-night/)
If you can't watch it due to the weather I believe that http://www.nasa.gov (http://www.nasa.gov) will be broadcasting it live.
Won't be seeing it here -- the official NWS wx fcst for tonight ...
"Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy,"
Thanks Kevin :)
Chance of snow here tonight but I'm hoping for a window in the clouds so I can get a peek.
Carolyn
Rare indeed! But I'll be in bed. This link says it been 456 years:
http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Solstice+eclipse+first+years/3983582/story.html
The forcast here says "Heavy snoring with a chance of rem sleep." I'll be checking out the EXCELLANT pictures other night owls will be posting in the next few days!
True story
When my boys were 13 they had a leonid meteor shower that was supposed to be jam up, unbelievably cool. So I told my boys I would wake them up at the right time, around 0200, and we would all go out by the pool and check it out. The Ex wife even got up and made hot chocolat for us(I spiked mine.)
Well we all got us a pillow and a blanket and layed on the pool deck and settled in for the show. After about 30 meteorites the boys got bored and one of them 'passed gas.' Rather loudly I might add. It was ON! They won.
would love to see the lunar eclipse though it has been raining here since Friday and no let up till Wednesday, and im in calif where it never rains
Thanks Kevin.
Gonna try a catch a peek.
But it may be thru one eye.
Quote from: ronbeaux on December 20, 2010, 04:59:45 PM
After about 30 meteorites the boys got bored and one of them 'passed gas.' Rather loudly I might add. It was ON! They won.
Sounds like a true memory the boys will always have! And funny too! ;D
Got my alarm set.
I be snoring at that time :D
I hope to catch it this time.
I missed it in 1638.
Quote from: classicrockgriller on December 20, 2010, 08:05:06 PM
I hope to catch it this time.
I missed it in 1638.
Me too, I had to work that night.
I saw it that time, was a beautiful sight. Me and the Mrs. were relaxing in the afterglow in the back of my chariot. Horses were bedded down, not a creature stirring.
Dang... I just read this in that article....
The most noticeable part of this eclipse will come when the moon begins to enter the Earth's dark inner shadow (called the umbra). A small scallop of darkness will begin to appear on the moon's left edge at 6:33 UT (on Dec. 21) corresponding to 1:33 a.m. EST or 10:33 p.m. PST (on Dec. 20).
When I read it --- I realize it's 12:32 a.m. CST (ONE MINUTE TO GO)
So, ran outside... Got a GREAT LOOK AT IT...
And...
From Central Illinois...
It looked like a standard overcast December night. :-\
Quote from: hal4uk on December 20, 2010, 10:40:47 PM
Dang... I just read this in that article....
The most noticeable part of this eclipse will come when the moon begins to enter the Earth's dark inner shadow (called the umbra). A small scallop of darkness will begin to appear on the moon's left edge at 6:33 UT (on Dec. 21) corresponding to 1:33 a.m. EST or 10:33 p.m. PST (on Dec. 20).
When I read it --- I realize it's 12:32 a.m. CST (ONE MINUTE TO GO)
So, ran outside... Got a GREAT LOOK AT IT...
And...
From Central Illinois...
It looked like a standard overcast December night. :-\
I looked up there and almost fell down, so I quit looking. ;D
I will have the same problem with cloudy skies. The following site has links to various sites that will be streaming the lunar eclipse. You may want to check the NASA channel, I'm hoping they will broadcast it.
So out of all the sites listed, one or more should have clear skies.
http://blogs.nasa.gov/cm/blog/Watch%20the%20Skies/posts/post_1292895242067.html
Quote from: Tiny Tim on December 20, 2010, 08:34:59 PM
I saw it that time, was a beautiful sight. Me and the Mrs. were relaxing in the afterglow in the back of my chariot. Horses were bedded down, not a creature stirring.
Chariot in the 1600's? Did you buy a restored model from Barrett- Jackson's great, great, great, (a few more greats) grandfather or were you just cheap and held on an old junker for many centuries? ::) ::)
Welp I missed it. Slept right thru my dang alarm....
My wife said there was a full moon off the side of the bed last night :D :D
Yeah, we got to see it!
Even though our local weatherman said it was highly unlikely that the clouds would give this area a break.
We got up and there were holes in the cloud cover and we got a great look at it.
Cool :)
Carolyn
No holes - no seeum in Nashvegas.
It was pretty bad over here too, cloud cover pretty much ruined it for me and to think I stayed up for this >:( :(
Belated update, but I got lucky. The fog hadn't developed as it started and first look I saw the edge of the moon disappear. Later, just after 2 am CT I looked again, fog was still thin and the clouds were broken and moving by quickly, and low and behold the very dimmed amber moon was there to be seen. Pretty special and cool.