Eclipse forecast improving
Worries that increasing clouds leading to possible snow on Tuesday seemed to be easing Monday morning, giving renewed hope for Marylanders eager to see tonight's total eclipse of the moon.
Forecasters out at Sterling, in their morning forecast discussion, said it looks like we'll get an opening in the clouds tonight just long enough to catch at least part of the eclipse:
"Low-level stratocumulus will linger into the evening before clearing out. High clouds ahead the approaching front will begin to overspread the area late tonight. Therefore, most of the [forecast area] should have a mostly clear look at the lunar eclipse tonight."
Okay, so it's not quite unequivocal. But it's a pretty good forecast. I know I'll be out there to watch. Here, again, are the key times:
Partial eclipse begins: 1:32 a.m. The full moon begins to slide into the Earth's shadow.
Total eclipse begins: 2:41 a.m. The moon is now in total shadow, taking on what may be an eerie coppery color. It always looks strangely three-dimensional, too, at least to me.
Mid-eclipse: 3:17 a.m. This is the darkest part of the eclipse.
Total eclipse ends: 3:53 a.m. The moon begins to re-emerge from the Earth's shadow.
Partial eclipse ends: 5:01 a.m. The moon is now back in full, direct sunlight.
Be sure to stop back here after the show and share your impressions. Did you wake the kids for a look? How did they react? My grown kids still remember when I got them up for a lunar eclipse back in the '80s. It makes an impression.
The next lunar eclipse visible from Maryland is in 2014.
(SUN PHOTO: Total lunar eclipse, October 2004, Karl Merton Ferron)
Comments
I'm optimistic enough at this point that I'm putting in for leave Tuesday.
Posted by: Ralph Galvin | December 20, 2010 11:28 AM
I will be out to observe and photograph the eclipse. I hope it's not too windy- wind shakes the scope and cameras, leading to blurry photos.
Posted by: Monroe | December 20, 2010 3:40 PM
Everyone is EXCITED!!
Posted by: Michelle Brown | December 20, 2010 5:24 PM
My whole family is going to check out the eclipse after Monday Night Football!
Posted by: Chris | December 20, 2010 7:45 PM
yay! eldest and i will get up on this, the morning of her 16th bday, to check it all out.
...now that i think on it, she turns 18 on the hyped 12.21.12... hope there's no potents that night! lol.
good viewing, everyone!
Posted by: Erin | December 20, 2010 9:02 PM
woo im watching it out my window! its awsome me and my gf are watching it together it can't et anybetter then this
FR: Great. Can you see the slight curve in the edge of the Earth's shadow as it crosses the moon? That's the clue that told the ancients that the Earth, too, was round. Also, just below the moon is the constellation Orion. You can recognize it by the three bright stars in a row - representing the Hunter's belt. Just below and to the left is the Orion nebula, a vast area of star formation. You can see it nicely in binoculars. Looks like a faint white smudge with a couple of bright stars in it.
Posted by: Matt | December 21, 2010 2:04 AM
Just amazing. I've never seen an eclipse before and photos just don't do justice to how eerie the fully eclipsed moon looks.
Posted by: Angelique | December 21, 2010 2:43 AM
It was gorgeous, just came in after watching through total and mid eclipse. My neighbor says the blue light is dispersed in the atmosphere leaving only red light upon the moon. Why is that?
FR: Same reason the sky is blue. The atmosphere scatters the blue wavelengths, transmits the red. Physics.
Posted by: Stacey | December 21, 2010 3:40 AM
it was extremely cold but certainly worth waiting for. mesmerizing, I couldn't stop looking...while chattering.
Posted by: sherri | December 21, 2010 5:06 AM