Lunar Eclipse Reminder
Just a reminder that the last total lunar eclipse until 2010 will occur tomorrow night and will be visible over North America, weather permitting.
LOS ANGELES - The last total lunar eclipse until 2010 occurs Wednesday night, with cameo appearances by Saturn and the bright star Regulus on either side of the veiled full moon.
Skywatchers viewing through a telescope will have the added treat of seeing Saturn's handsome rings.
Weather permitting, the total eclipse can be seen from North and South America. People in Europe and Africa will be able to see it high in the sky before dawn on Thursday.
As the moonlight dims — it won't go totally dark — Saturn and Regulus will pop out and sandwich the moon. Regulus is the brightest star in the constellation Leo.
Jack Horkheimer, host of the PBS show "Star Gazer," called the event "the moon, the lord of the rings and heart of the lion eclipse."
Wednesday's event will be the last total lunar eclipse until Dec. 20, 2010. Last year there were two.
Best viewing should start around 10 pm EST. Sadly, much of the United States will be overcast as more winter weather sweeps across the country. Good luck, folks.
By Lars Walker, Tuesday, 19 February , 2008 @ 4:14 pm
Sadly, much of the United States will be bloody cold, too.
By NortonPete, Tuesday, 19 February , 2008 @ 5:24 pm
I’m expecting clouds here also.
But USA 193 just went directly over the top of my house, it was very bright, not like the ISS but one of the brightest satellites I’ve seen this year.
The website n2yo com is very accurate. I gave up briefly because of very cold air and wind only to come back inside and see the display showing it over my house. I ran out and enjoyed about 10 seconds of good viewing. Again it is very bright should be an easy missile target Thursday night. Try to catch it before then.
Satellites are actually easy to identify, they move faster than aircraft, looking like a star that decided to become ambulatory. They have no lights and usually disappear high on the horizon.