The Western Hemisphere will be given a bit of an astronomical treat Wednesday with a total lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse occurs whenever the moon passes through some portion of the Earth’s shadow – basically when the Earth is between the moon and the sun.
Best up all for those of us in the Rocky Mountain area, the eclipse will occur at a good time for watching (see below). For more information, please see the table below for viewing times and the links for more information.
Update, 2/20/08 @ 10:30am – Unfortunately it appears cloud cover in the Denver metro area may inhibit the ability to see the eclipse. It is worth trying to get a glimpse though.
NASA Website About Tonight’s Eclipse
AFP News Story – How an Eclipse Saved Columbus
| Total Lunar Eclipse of February 20, 2008 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | Other | ||||||
| Event | EST | CST | MST | PST | AST | GMT | |
| Partial Eclipse Begins: | 08:43 pm | 07:43 pm | 06:43 pm | 05:43 pm | 04:43 pm | 01:43 am* | |
| Total Eclipse Begins: | 10:01 pm | 09:01 pm | 08:01 pm | 07:01 pm | 06:01 pm | 03:01 am* | |
| Mid-Eclipse: | 10:26 pm | 09:26 pm | 08:26 pm | 07:26 pm | 06:26 pm | 03:26 am* | |
| Total Eclipse Ends: | 10:51 pm | 09:51 pm | 08:51 pm | 07:51 pm | 06:51 pm | 03:51 am* | |
| Partial Eclipse Ends: | 12:09 am* | 11:09 pm | 10:09 pm | 09:09 pm | 08:09 pm | 05:09 am* | |
* Event occurs on morning of February 21, 2008