An Age of Magic

Your last chance to see a REAL lunar eclipse - for 7 years

February 20, 2008 on 7:51 pm | In Magic |

Here is your last chance to see one of natures most wondrous delights… a true lunar eclipse that will not re-occur for another seven years.

Night owls can catch one of the great spectacles of the night sky early tomorrow morning - the last “proper” total eclipse of the moon for seven years.  If the skies are clear, those who brave the cold will see the earth’s shadow take a “bite” out of the moon just after 1.40am.  At 3am, when the total eclipse gets under way, the moon will turn blood-red for 52 minutes as it passes completely into shadow.

 The shadow will then slowly retreat until partial eclipse ends at 5.09am.  Although lunar eclipses take place around twice a year, this will be the last time one will be visible from the whole of the UK until 2015.  A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, earth and moon form a straight line and the earth’s shadow falls on the moon.

It may not be as dramatic as a solar eclipse, when the moon passes in front of the sun, but it can be looked at directly with the naked eye, unlike with the precautions required to view a solar eclipse.  

Eclipse watchers are advised to stand away from street lights and use binoculars or a telescope-for an even more dramatic-view.  The moon will start to dim just after 12.40am as it passes through outer part of the earth shadow.  However, the true partial eclipse begins at 1.43am when a “bite” will appear on the edge of the full moon.

At 3am the earth’s shadow will cover it completely.  It should change colour because the only light to reach it has passed through the earth’s atmosphere, which scatters blue light, but allows red light to pass through unaffected.  This is the same effect that turns sunsets red and the sky blue

This is one of natures treats that should not be missed!

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