Friday, December 17, 2010

Lunar Eclipse

There is a lunar eclipse on the night of December 20 or 21-depending on your time zone. This December solstice eclipse is also the northenmost total lunar eclipse for several centuries.
There won't be a total lunar eclipse this far north on the sky's dome until December 21, 2485.
That's because this eclipse is happening almost simutaneously with the December solstice-which in 2010 occurs on December 21-when the sun will be southernmost for this year. Remember, a totally eclipsed full moon has to lie exactly opposite the sun. The winter sun rides low to the south now, as it crosses the sky each day. December full moon is far to the north on the sky's dome. It rides high in the sky-much like the June solstice sun.

December 21 solstice marks day of southernmost sun (http://earthsky.org/tonight/southernmost-sun-brings-december-21-solstice)

Remember it's the same eclipse-happening at the same magical moments-for all of us. But our clocks will say different times.

Here are the central standard times for the eclipse- December 21

Partial eclipse starts-
December 21 -12:33 a.m.

Total eclipse starts-
December 21-1:41 a.m.

Total eclipse ends-
December 21-2:53 a.m.

Partial eclipse ends-
December 21-4:01 a.m.

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