Were you up to watch the Lunar Eclipse?
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Moonwatchers treated to total lunar eclipse
NEW YORK -- Skywatchers got an early holiday present this year: A total eclipse of the moon.
Hanging high in the sky, the moon slowly turned from bright silver into a red disk early Tuesday.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth casts its shadow on the full moon, blocking the sun's rays that otherwise reflect off the moon's surface. Some indirect sunlight still pierces through to give the moon its eerie hue.
The 3 1/2 hour celestial spectacle was visible from North and Central America where skies were clear. Portions of Europe and Asia only caught part of the show.
The totality phase - when the moon was completely immersed in Earth's shadow - lasted 72 minutes.
Since the year's only total lunar eclipse coincided with winter solstice, the moon glowed high in the sky.
The last time this occurred was more than three centuries ago on Dec. 21, 1638. It will happen again on Dec. 21, 2094, according to U.S. Naval Observatory spokesman Geoff Chester.
Lunar eclipses are safe to watch with the naked eye, unlike solar eclipses.
The next total lunar eclipse will occur in June 2011 and will not be visible from North America.
Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images This combo of pictures taken in Manassas, Va., shows the moon in different stages of a total lunar eclipse on Dec., 21, 2010. The eclipse is also falling on the same day as the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere a rare occurrence that hasn't happened in 372 years.
Yeah, I was up and had a front-row seat -- in front of the TV. With
blustery winds and sub-freezing temperatures, there was no way I
was going to brave the elements and barely see the thing happening.
Isn't technology great!!
Moonwatchers treated to total lunar eclipse
NEW YORK -- Skywatchers got an early holiday present this year: A total eclipse of the moon.
Hanging high in the sky, the moon slowly turned from bright silver into a red disk early Tuesday.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth casts its shadow on the full moon, blocking the sun's rays that otherwise reflect off the moon's surface. Some indirect sunlight still pierces through to give the moon its eerie hue.
The 3 1/2 hour celestial spectacle was visible from North and Central America where skies were clear. Portions of Europe and Asia only caught part of the show.
The totality phase - when the moon was completely immersed in Earth's shadow - lasted 72 minutes.
Since the year's only total lunar eclipse coincided with winter solstice, the moon glowed high in the sky.
The last time this occurred was more than three centuries ago on Dec. 21, 1638. It will happen again on Dec. 21, 2094, according to U.S. Naval Observatory spokesman Geoff Chester.
Lunar eclipses are safe to watch with the naked eye, unlike solar eclipses.
The next total lunar eclipse will occur in June 2011 and will not be visible from North America.
Yeah, I was up and had a front-row seat -- in front of the TV. With
blustery winds and sub-freezing temperatures, there was no way I
was going to brave the elements and barely see the thing happening.
Isn't technology great!!
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