Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Oct 21, 2004 2:03:34 GMT -6
LUNAR ECLIPSE DETAILS AND OBSERVATIONAL INFORMATION
In preparation of the Total Lunar Eclipse - the following is a synopsis of the event:
The full Moon will rise over Lake Michigan on the 27th of October at 5:41 p.m. and set at 7:48 a.m. on the 28th.
The Eclipse will start at 8:14 p.m. Chicago time, and the entire event will last three hours and forty minutes, ending at 11:54 p.m
Partial Eclipse Begins - 8:14
Total Eclipse Begins - 9:23
Mid-Eclipse - 10:04
Total Eclipse Ends - 10:45
Partial Eclipse Ends - 11:54
A closed fist held arms length away from your eye...roughly equals 10 degrees... and the moon starts to enter the lighter part of the shadow, (Penumbra), Little over one clenched fist above the horizon and enters the darker segment, (Umbra), about three fists above the horizon
If the skies are clear, it will be a special viewing to catch both a full moon rise and the Total Eclipse in the same observation session.
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Now a Special Treat....
From Resident Lunar Expert Chicago Astronomer Curt, comes this fascinating bit of Lunar Eclipse data:
"The eclipse of October 27th will complete a tetrad, the occurrence of four total lunar eclipses over a period of less than a year and a half. Americans are particularly fortunate to have three of them occurring during the evening with the Moon above the horizon. A similar tetrad occurred one Saros cycle earlier in 1985-86. So are they common? In our era they are, but not always. In the period 1900-2099 there are 12 tetrads. But none occur in the periods 1600-1899 or 2200-2399. Rich and poor periods for tetrads alternate over a cycle of 586 years.
The 586-year cycle is evident in other ways. We are living in a rich era for total lunar eclipses generally, not just tetrads. But we witness fewer than normal deep total eclipses. We'll define a deep eclipse as one in which the limb of the totally eclipsed Moon is separated from the edge of the umbra (dark shadow) by at least one lunar radius. During the period 1900-2099 there are 165 total lunar eclipses, but only 41 are deep. During the period 1600-1799 there were only 121 totals, but 82 were deep. During the period 2200-2399 there will also be 121 totals, including 86 deep ones.
There are other examples of the 586-year cycle involving both lunar and solar eclipses. So with the data for eclipses, don't assume that a sampling of a single century provides you with accurate long-term distributions. Just be glad to be alive during an era in which total lunar eclipses are relatively plentiful.
Here's wishing you pleasant viewing on Wednesday evening!"
Curt Renz
For a link to my astronomical graphics, including a preview of the upcoming eclipse, click:
www.curtrenz.com/astronomical.html
The 586-year cycle is evident in other ways. We are living in a rich era for total lunar eclipses generally, not just tetrads. But we witness fewer than normal deep total eclipses. We'll define a deep eclipse as one in which the limb of the totally eclipsed Moon is separated from the edge of the umbra (dark shadow) by at least one lunar radius. During the period 1900-2099 there are 165 total lunar eclipses, but only 41 are deep. During the period 1600-1799 there were only 121 totals, but 82 were deep. During the period 2200-2399 there will also be 121 totals, including 86 deep ones.
There are other examples of the 586-year cycle involving both lunar and solar eclipses. So with the data for eclipses, don't assume that a sampling of a single century provides you with accurate long-term distributions. Just be glad to be alive during an era in which total lunar eclipses are relatively plentiful.
Here's wishing you pleasant viewing on Wednesday evening!"
Curt Renz
For a link to my astronomical graphics, including a preview of the upcoming eclipse, click:
www.curtrenz.com/astronomical.html
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What a great piece of information to know about our moon's cycles and various eclipse mechanics!
Please visit Curt's site and view the detailed and larger Eclipse progression graphic he created in his astronomical section. Great stuff!
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I plan to set up my equipment - East Side of the Adler Planetarium, (not at my usual site by Copernicus), along with other members of the Chicago Astronomer Forum and Members of the Adler Planetarium with their own scopes. It will prove to be a great night of lunar commiseration, bring clear skies or cloudy conditions. I would also like to catch the full moon rise, so I plan to be there about 5:00 p.m.
Chicago skies are notorious for cloudy fall nights. Let's all hope that the same near perfect conditions that graced us for our Star Party will also smile upon all Chicagoans for this last total lunar eclipse till 2007.
To a Glorious Eclipsed Moon!