Post by Centaur on Dec 6, 2010 19:38:42 GMT -6
There will be a total lunar eclipse entirely visible from North America on the night of 2010 DEC 20/21. Observers in the UK will only witness the opening phases of the eclipse including entry into totality before the Moon sets. Australians can see the final partial and penumbral stages after moonrise.
During the eclipse some lucky observers will be treated to occultations of the asteroid 348 May and/or the open cluster NGC 2129. These occultations will require those watching to have telescopes. The asteroid has a magnitude of +12.9. The open cluster is 2.5 arcminutes in diameter with a combined magnitude of +6.7.
I’ve created graphics previewing these events. My panoramic graphic of nine stages of the eclipse is specifically oriented for Chicagoland. However, the timings are correct for anywhere as long as adjustment is made from CST (UT-6). The Moon’s altitude and orientation will vary depending on location. I’ve placed a fictitious blue wall behind the Moon to make clear the Earth’s umbra (inner dark shadow) and penumbra (fringe shadow). I’ve also created a time lapse animation to illustrate the eclipse at ten-minute intervals.
I’ve drawn graze maps for both occultations. For the open cluster the maps are for the cluster’s center. Also included are occultation graphics and data specifically for observers at Chicago’s Adler Planetarium. For them the center of the cluster will be missed by the Moon, but some of its southern stars may be occulted or grazed by the Moon after the eclipse has concluded. From the Adler the asteroid immersion and emersion will both occur in the Earth’s umbra despite my occultation images showing the Moon fully lit.
My data and graphics can be seen by clicking www.curtrenz.com/astronomical and then going to the Moon page.
If you would like occultation information specifically for your location, please reply to this post with a longitude, latitude, time zone and altitude above sea level.
Photos and descriptions of the events would be welcome additions to this thread.
During the eclipse some lucky observers will be treated to occultations of the asteroid 348 May and/or the open cluster NGC 2129. These occultations will require those watching to have telescopes. The asteroid has a magnitude of +12.9. The open cluster is 2.5 arcminutes in diameter with a combined magnitude of +6.7.
I’ve created graphics previewing these events. My panoramic graphic of nine stages of the eclipse is specifically oriented for Chicagoland. However, the timings are correct for anywhere as long as adjustment is made from CST (UT-6). The Moon’s altitude and orientation will vary depending on location. I’ve placed a fictitious blue wall behind the Moon to make clear the Earth’s umbra (inner dark shadow) and penumbra (fringe shadow). I’ve also created a time lapse animation to illustrate the eclipse at ten-minute intervals.
I’ve drawn graze maps for both occultations. For the open cluster the maps are for the cluster’s center. Also included are occultation graphics and data specifically for observers at Chicago’s Adler Planetarium. For them the center of the cluster will be missed by the Moon, but some of its southern stars may be occulted or grazed by the Moon after the eclipse has concluded. From the Adler the asteroid immersion and emersion will both occur in the Earth’s umbra despite my occultation images showing the Moon fully lit.
My data and graphics can be seen by clicking www.curtrenz.com/astronomical and then going to the Moon page.
If you would like occultation information specifically for your location, please reply to this post with a longitude, latitude, time zone and altitude above sea level.
Photos and descriptions of the events would be welcome additions to this thread.
