Catch a Glimpse Of Summer Lunar Eclipse. August 27th at Sunset
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
Summer eclipses are the best. I mean, how can it get better? Evening temperatures are comfortable and it stay that way for many of us well into late night. More so, frequently, these lunar eclipses’ occur at a reasonable hour. When these two taste treats meet as one, it’s a stargazer dream come true,. And this is just what will happen when a lunar eclipse takes place beginning the on evening of the 27th and concluding int he early the morning of the 28th.
A Bit of Lunar Eclipse Geometry
Did you know that lunar eclipses only occur at Full Moons, and are visible anywhere the Moon is above the horizon at the time? As the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, the Earth casts its shadow on the Moon. Since the Moon’s orbit is tipped around 5 degrees off-plane, in relation to the Earth and Sun, that straight line usually isn’t entirely straight. A lunar eclipse is the result of the Moon crossing that plane of the Earth and Sun at the same time of a Full Moon.
The eclipse we’ll experience on the 27th 28th is a partial lunar eclipse. This is when the Moon only partially enters the Earth’s umbral shadow. Partially? Heck, for this eclipse, 97% of the Moon passes through the Earth’s shadow. That’s more than “partial” in my book.
So, take a look for yourself. Can you see that thin slice outside the umbra at 10:12pm local time? See the image below..
Here's the position of the Moon in the sky at the time of Greatest Eclipse:
The Eclipse Timeline:
7:24pm: Moon enters the penumbra shadow of the Earth. Its color is still bright bluish-white, yet there is a subtle gray dulling on one edge, or limb.
8:33:pm For us central Colorado mountain folks, the Moon clears the mountains in the east-southeast. It is obvious partial eclipse underway as a visible "bite" out of the Moon appears. Now, it is a tan / copper color.
9:00–10:00pm: The Moon becomes increasingly darker appearing a rust color.
10:12pm: Greatest maximum eclipse. The Moon takes on a deep reddish-orange color. Here a challenge for you at this moment: See if you can notice the quite thin sunlit cap at the extreme edge of the Moon. There’s your 97% lunar totality.
10:15–11:00pm: The Moon moves out of the core darkest part of the Earth's shadow, called the umbra, and enters the penumbra, the lighter part of the Earth's shadow. The deep red color shrinks fast.
August 28, 1:02am: The Moon leaves the Earth's shadow entirely and is once again a bright, bluish-white color.
Okay, this is ease one to make happen. Alert the peeps; cuz this kind of celestial geometry is better when shared. Three worlds lining up in a row. You tell me. Is there any quite like watching celestial alignments happen in real-time with ones you like and love beside you?
Plus, there’s no astronomical gear required to see a lunar eclipse, but binoculars help. All you need is your family and friends, comfy chairs, and all outdoor lights turned off (If you’re not in a dark location.). Make it a party. Get the popcorn, pass around the thermos, wear socks, lie on blankets, and look up for some of the best original nocturnal night time entertainment of the summer.
Do You Live In Summit County, Colorado? Join The Astro Mark and Friends to View The Eclipse!
Stargazing is more fun when you do it with others.
The Astro Mark team of telescope operator astronomers decided to get together to view the upcoming lunar eclipse. Since we'll have four (4) telescopes trained on all phases of the eclipse, and because the eclipse begins at sunset, a reasonable time, we thought, why not invite others to join us?"
Why not invite others to bring their own telescopes, binoculars, and cameras; or simply bring a chair and look through our telescopes? Eclipse viewing is always more fun when shared with others. If you agree, then you just better join my Astro Mark friends and me, for a public lunar eclipse viewing party on West Lodgepost Street (west of the Dillon Amphitheater) in Dillon, starting at 8:30pm. See the image below. We'll be setting up our scope and chairs in the area highlighted in yellow.
Bring a chair. Bring your friends. Bring your binoculars / telescope, and camera. If it's not raining, we'll be there and I hope to see you there. too!
Wishing you the clearest of night skies this Thursday. Enjoy the lunar eclipse!
Keep looking up!
Mark
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