Synthstuff - music, photography and more...

Two celestial events at the same time

From PhysOrg: The article says the event is on the 21st. It is in the very early hours of the 21st if you live on the East Coast. It starts around 10PM on the 20th if you live on the West Coast.

Solstice lunar eclipse set for December 21st
Everyone knows that "the moon on the breast of new-fallen snow gives the luster of mid-day to objects below." That is, except during a lunar eclipse.

See for yourself on Dec. 21st, the first day of northern winter, when the full Moon passes almost dead-center through Earth's shadow. For 72 minutes of eerie totality, an amber light will play across the snows of North America, throwing landscapes into an unusual state of ruddy shadow.

The eclipse begins on Tuesday morning, Dec. 21st, at 1:33 am EST (Monday, Dec. 20th, at 10:33 pm PST). At that time, Earth's shadow will appear as a dark-red bite at the edge of the lunar disk. It takes about an hour for the "bite" to expand and swallow the entire Moon. Totality commences at 02:41 am EST (11:41 pm PST) and lasts for 72 minutes.

If you're planning to dash out for only one quick look -� it is December, after all -� choose this moment: 03:17 am EST (17 minutes past midnight PST). That's when the Moon will be in deepest shadow, displaying the most fantastic shades of coppery red.

The two have not happened together since about 600 years ago. Quite the rare event... Posted by DaveH at December 17, 2010 8:45 PM