Blood moon delights star gazers
March 4, 2007 - 11:30AM
Thousands of people in Britain have witnessed the most spectacular
lunar eclipse in more than a decade.
The first total eclipse of the moon in three years was clearly visible
across much of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland thanks to
clear skies and crisp weather.
The surface of the full Moon first went dark before turning a coppery
red to the delight of thousands of people who stayed up to watch the
display.
The moon appeared red because light scattering through the Earth's
atmosphere was reduced to predominantly-red wavelengths, which reflect
off the lunar surface.
In ancient times a "blood Moon" was viewed with dread and seen as an
omen of disaster or great change.
This year's lunar eclipse could be seen most clearly from Europe,
Africa and the Middle East.
The event is regarded by astronomers as one of the most memorable in
more than 15 years.
After the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1992, so much volcanic ash was
released into the atmosphere that the eclipsed Moon that year was
nearly invisible.
Since the Earth has not had a major eruption for some years, this
eclipse was a more impressive sight.
Robin Scagell, from the Society for Popular Astronomy, said: "This is
one of the best lunar eclipses from Britain for years. "It was
fascinating to watch the Moon's graceful movement through the shadow
of the Earth and check its coppery glow."
Dr Ian Morison, from the University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank
Observatory, said: "If the Earth had no atmosphere the Moon would
become invisible when it fully enters the Earth's shadow. However,
light refracted and scattered through the atmosphere can still
illuminate the Moon, though with far reduced brightness.
"As blue light is scattered by the atmosphere more than red light -
which is why our skies are blue - the light that remains is
predominantly red and orange, the colour of the Sun when close to the
horizon.
"If there were astronauts on the surface of the Moon looking towards
the Earth during a total lunar eclipse, they would see a black disc
surrounded by a bright red ring. It is the light from this ring that
we see reflected by the Moon's surface."
The reason an eclipse does not happen every time there is a full Moon
is that the Moon's orbit is inclined at five degrees to the Earth's
orbital path around the Sun.
As a result, the Earth's shadow usually passes above or below the
Moon.
AAP
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/blood-moon-delights/2007/03/04/1172943259512.html
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| User: "Woodswun" |
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| Title: Re: Blood Moon Delights Star Gazers |
04 Mar 2007 06:44:57 AM |
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On Sun, 04 Mar 2007 03:29:51 -0800, Docrodile wrote:
Blood moon delights star gazers
March 4, 2007 - 11:30AM
Thousands of people in Britain have witnessed the most spectacular
lunar eclipse in more than a decade.
The first total eclipse of the moon in three years was clearly visible
across much of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland thanks to
clear skies and crisp weather.
The surface of the full Moon first went dark before turning a coppery
red to the delight of thousands of people who stayed up to watch the
display.
The moon appeared red because light scattering through the Earth's
atmosphere was reduced to predominantly-red wavelengths, which reflect
off the lunar surface.
In ancient times a "blood Moon" was viewed with dread and seen as an
omen of disaster or great change.
This year's lunar eclipse could be seen most clearly from Europe,
Africa and the Middle East.
Well, I guess that leaves America off the hook for disaster. I'm not so
sure that the lack of a "great change" is such a Good Thing, tho - LOL!
Woods
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| User: "marika" |
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| Title: Re: Blood Moon Delights Star Gazers |
11 Mar 2007 12:45:25 PM |
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On Sun, 04 Mar 2007 06:29:51 -0500, Docrodile <cmdrlala@gmail.com> wrote:
Blood moon delights star gazers
March 4, 2007 - 11:30AM
Thousands of people in Britain have witnessed the most spectacular
lunar eclipse in more than a decade.
i saw a similar one in Alabama about 2 1/2 years ago. right around
halloween
it's not really red.
it's more like a wispy red cloud passed in front it for a few seconds.
people were saying they saw things that were standing next to me that just
wasn't true
The first total eclipse of the moon in three years was clearly visible
across much of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland thanks to
clear skies and crisp weather.
The surface of the full Moon first went dark before turning a coppery
red to the delight of thousands of people who stayed up to watch the
display.
The moon appeared red because light scattering through the Earth's
atmosphere was reduced to predominantly-red wavelengths, which reflect
off the lunar surface.
In ancient times a "blood Moon" was viewed with dread and seen as an
omen of disaster or great change.
This year's lunar eclipse could be seen most clearly from Europe,
Africa and the Middle East.
The event is regarded by astronomers as one of the most memorable in
more than 15 years.
After the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1992, so much volcanic ash was
released into the atmosphere that the eclipsed Moon that year was
nearly invisible.
Since the Earth has not had a major eruption for some years, this
eclipse was a more impressive sight.
Robin Scagell, from the Society for Popular Astronomy, said: "This is
one of the best lunar eclipses from Britain for years. "It was
fascinating to watch the Moon's graceful movement through the shadow
of the Earth and check its coppery glow."
Dr Ian Morison, from the University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank
Observatory, said: "If the Earth had no atmosphere the Moon would
become invisible when it fully enters the Earth's shadow. However,
light refracted and scattered through the atmosphere can still
illuminate the Moon, though with far reduced brightness.
"As blue light is scattered by the atmosphere more than red light -
which is why our skies are blue - the light that remains is
predominantly red and orange, the colour of the Sun when close to the
horizon.
"If there were astronauts on the surface of the Moon looking towards
the Earth during a total lunar eclipse, they would see a black disc
surrounded by a bright red ring. It is the light from this ring that
we see reflected by the Moon's surface."
The reason an eclipse does not happen every time there is a full Moon
is that the Moon's orbit is inclined at five degrees to the Earth's
orbital path around the Sun.
As a result, the Earth's shadow usually passes above or below the
Moon.
AAP
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/blood-moon-delights/2007/03/04/1172943259512.html
.
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