Total Lunar Eclipse Occurring February 20th.
Weather permitting, a total Lunar eclipse will be visible during the evening of February 20, 2008. This occurs when the Moon passes through the shadow of the Earth. This particular eclipse will not last as long as the last total lunar eclipse which occurred last August, as the Moon will not pass as deeply into Earth’s shadow. Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is completely safe to view naked eye.
For the Mountain time zone, the partial phase of the eclipse will begin at 6:43 PM, when the Moon makes first contact with the dark shadow of the Earth. Over the next 78 minutes the dark shadow will spread slowly across the Moon with the Moon coming completely into Earth’s shadow at 8:01 PM, the beginning of the total phase of the eclipse.
The total phase of the eclipse will last about 50 minutes, with the Moon lying deepest in the shadow of the Earth at 8:26 PM. Light rays bending through the atmosphere of the Earth may cast a deep reddish hue on the Moon during the total phase. The total phase will end at 8:51 PM when the edge of the Moon begins to emerge out of Earth’s shadow.
The dark shadow of the Earth will then slowly retreat from the surface of the Moon, with the Moon moving completely out of the shadow at 10:09 PM.
Climatologically, viewing conditions are not particularly promising as cloud cover is not unusual at this time of year. Hopefully the weather will cooperate this time, as the next total lunar eclipse visible from this region will not occur until December 21st of 2010.
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For the Mountain time zone, the partial phase of the eclipse will begin at 6:43 PM, when the Moon makes first contact with the dark shadow of the Earth. Over the next 78 minutes the dark shadow will spread slowly across the Moon with the Moon coming completely into Earth’s shadow at 8:01 PM, the beginning of the total phase of the eclipse.
The total phase of the eclipse will last about 50 minutes, with the Moon lying deepest in the shadow of the Earth at 8:26 PM. Light rays bending through the atmosphere of the Earth may cast a deep reddish hue on the Moon during the total phase. The total phase will end at 8:51 PM when the edge of the Moon begins to emerge out of Earth’s shadow.
The dark shadow of the Earth will then slowly retreat from the surface of the Moon, with the Moon moving completely out of the shadow at 10:09 PM.
Climatologically, viewing conditions are not particularly promising as cloud cover is not unusual at this time of year. Hopefully the weather will cooperate this time, as the next total lunar eclipse visible from this region will not occur until December 21st of 2010.
Return to News Archive
