A total lunar eclipse will occur during the night of 2008 FEB 20/21. As with any Full Moon, it will be visible from the entire nighttime side of the Earth. Most or all of it will be seen in the Americas, Europe and Africa.
The maximum magnitude in the umbra will be 1.105. That means during totality the greatest separation between the edge of the umbra (dark portion of Earth’s shadow) and the nearest point on the limb of the Moon will be 10.5% of a lunar diameter. The greatest possible magnitude is 1.881.
This will be the last total lunar eclipse until 2010 DEC 21, although there will be three partial lunar eclipses between now and then.
Below are my predictions for the various stages of the event in Universal (Greenwich) Time. I use the French Rule for shadow sizes and know of no other source that takes into account the oblate shape of the Earth.
00:37 UT – Moon enters penumbra (gray fringe shadow)
01:43 UT – Moon enters umbra (dark inner shadow)
02:18 UT – 50% of Moon’s diameter covered by umbra (magnitude 0.500)
03:01 UT – Totality begins (magnitude 1.000)
03:26 UT – Maximum eclipse (magnitude 1.105)
03:51 UT – Totality ends (magnitude 1.000)
04:34 UT – 50% of Moon’s diameter covered by umbra (magnitude 0.500)
05:09 UT – Moon exits umbra (dark inner shadow)
06:16 UT – Moon exits penumbra (gray fringe shadow)
I’ve created graphics that illustrate the stages of the eclipse as seen from Arlington Heights, Illinois and London, England. They should well serve most observers in North America or Europe. They can be seen by clicking: http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical.html
Photos and descriptions of the eclipse would be welcome additions to this thread.
The maximum magnitude in the umbra will be 1.105. That means during totality the greatest separation between the edge of the umbra (dark portion of Earth’s shadow) and the nearest point on the limb of the Moon will be 10.5% of a lunar diameter. The greatest possible magnitude is 1.881.
This will be the last total lunar eclipse until 2010 DEC 21, although there will be three partial lunar eclipses between now and then.
Below are my predictions for the various stages of the event in Universal (Greenwich) Time. I use the French Rule for shadow sizes and know of no other source that takes into account the oblate shape of the Earth.
00:37 UT – Moon enters penumbra (gray fringe shadow)
01:43 UT – Moon enters umbra (dark inner shadow)
02:18 UT – 50% of Moon’s diameter covered by umbra (magnitude 0.500)
03:01 UT – Totality begins (magnitude 1.000)
03:26 UT – Maximum eclipse (magnitude 1.105)
03:51 UT – Totality ends (magnitude 1.000)
04:34 UT – 50% of Moon’s diameter covered by umbra (magnitude 0.500)
05:09 UT – Moon exits umbra (dark inner shadow)
06:16 UT – Moon exits penumbra (gray fringe shadow)
I’ve created graphics that illustrate the stages of the eclipse as seen from Arlington Heights, Illinois and London, England. They should well serve most observers in North America or Europe. They can be seen by clicking: http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical.html
Photos and descriptions of the eclipse would be welcome additions to this thread.
For astronomical graphics, including
monthly wallpaper calendar, visit:
CurtRenz.com/astronomical
Curt Renz
