Lunar Eclipse Tonight

I copied this story out of the Charlotte Observer. The pictures were taken last night at 20 minute intervals, also from the Observer.

Get out the telescope for today's lunar eclipse. This is the last total lunar eclipse visible in the Carolinas for almost two years. The next is at winter solstice in 2010. So enjoy the show.




Moon pictured with the Bank of America Building in Uptown Charlotte.









You might be able to notice when the moon enters the lighter penumbra portion of the shadow after 7:30 p.m. But the real action begins about 8:43 as it enters the umbra, when the partial eclipse begins. As the partial eclipse starts, note the curved edge of the Earth's shadow, proof the Earth is round. Only a sphere always casts a circular shadow.

Notice the moon's color when it is fully in eclipse. A reddish moon means the Earth's atmosphere at the twilight zone is fairly clear, allowing some sunlight to leak through to light the moon. A dark gray event says our twilight zone is cloudier. This totality begins about 10 p.m. and lasts 50 minutes.

Enjoy the starry background -- the moon's natural light pollution is gone. The darkened moon against a starry background looks surreal. The moon will be only a few degrees from Saturn, to its northeast, and the bright star Regulus, a few degrees to the northwest.