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Earth's Shadow To Darken Moon Tonight

Posted on: Wednesday, 27 October 2004, 15:00 CDT

The gentle drift of the moon through Earth's shadow during a lunar eclipse is one of the sky's great shows.

Weather permitting (clouds and showers are forecast across much of the state), New Mexicans will be able to see the show for themselves.

A lunar eclipse happens when Earth lies on a precise line between sun and moon, blocking the sunlight that would otherwise make the full moon a beacon in the night sky.

Instead, the moon turns rust red.

The moon will start to darken at 7:14 p.m. MDT. The total eclipse, with the moon in full shadow, will stretch from 8:23 p.m. to 9:44 p.m., with the last of the shadows visible until 10:53 p.m.

The Albuquerque Astronomical Society and LodeStar are teaming up for an eclipse viewing event at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, 1801 Mountain NW.

The society will set up telescopes at the museum for free viewing of the eclipse and other things visible in the evening sky. LodeStar will have moon-related planetarium shows, observatory viewing and kids activities at 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8, and 8:30 p.m.

Admission for the LodeStar activities is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $3 for children ages 3 to 12. The society's telescope viewing is free.

The next total lunar eclipse visible from New Mexico will happen Aug. 28, 2007.

Source: Albuquerque Journal

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