February 20th Lunar Eclipse

Written by: Brian Neudorff

(Some Information found at Sky & Telescope.com & SpaceWeather.com)

Last August we only got to see the start of a total lunar eclipse, because it took place right before sunrise. This Wednesday, February 20th 2008, we will get to see the entire lunar eclipse which will start at 8:43pm EST and go until 12:09am EST. With totality taking place 10:00pm EST until 10:52pm EST (7:00pm PST to 7:52pm PST)

A Lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the sun and the moon, blocking the sun’s light that is reflected off the lunar surface.

Total eclipse begins when the last bit of the Moon slips into the umbra. The umbra is the part of Earth’s shadow where the Sun is blocked completely. When the moon is in the umbra it will not appear black but turn a deep orange or reddish color. The reason it turns a reddish orange shade is quite amazing.

Explanation from SkyandTelescope.com:

The red light you'll see on the Moon comes from all the sunrises and sunsets that are occurring around Earth at the time. Our atmosphere scatters and refracts (bends) the sunlight that grazes the rim of our globe, sending some of it into Earth’s shadow.

In 1504, Christopher Columbus and his crew were stranded on Jamaica, running out of food and the local hostile natives were refusing to supply Columbus with any more supplies, a lunar eclipse is credited with saving his life and his crew.

Columbus, looking at an astronomical almanac compiled by a German mathematician, realized that a total eclipse of the Moon would occur on February 29, 1504.

He called the native leaders and warned them if they did not cooperate, he would make the Moon disappear from the sky the following night.

The warning, of course, came true, prompting the terrified people to beg Columbus to restore the Moon -- which he did, in return for as much food as his men needed. He and the crew were rescued on June 29, 1504.

So Feb 20th lunar eclipse is a kind of recreation of the same eclipse that saved Columbus' life five centuries ago.