Backyard Astronomy-Lunar Eclipse 2/20/08--Tonight!

This website has a very cool illustration of the eclipse!

http://shadowandsubstance.com/

Get Ready For February's Total Lunar Eclipse
02.19.08

In the late night hours of Feb. 20, 2008, a total lunar eclipse will dazzle
the night sky. And this lunar eclipse may be worth staying up for, because
it will be the last one until December 2010.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth lines up directly between the sun and
the moon, casting a shadow over the moon's surface. The February 20, 2008
eclipse will last for nearly 3 and a half hours. For a full 50 minutes of
that time the moon will be in totality - the period when the lunar surface
is completely covered by the Earth's shadow.

During an eclipse the moon changes color, going from a light gray color to
an orange or deep red shade. This is totality. The moon takes on this new
color because indirect sunlight is still able to pass through the Earth's
atmosphere and cast a glow on the moon.

The exact color that the moon appears depends on the amount of dust and
clouds in the atmosphere. If there are extra particles in the atmosphere,
from say a recent volcanic eruption, the moon will appear a darker shade of
red.

Residents of the Americas, Europe and Africa will have the best view of this
eclipse.

Here in the United States, the entire eclipse will be visible for the
majority of the country. However, residents on the West Coast will miss out
on watching the early stages of the eclipse, as it begins before moonrise.

This Wednesday night, hope for clear skies, try to stay awake and enjoy a
spectacular lunar eclipse.

Laura Motel
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center



Find this article at:

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/moonmars/features/eclipse_preview_080219.html