Star Points for August, 2007; by Curtis Roelle
Our 2nd Chance for a Total Lunar Eclipse

Last March our region was well situated to watch a full moon rise 
in the midst of a total lunar eclipse.  Unfortunately, we also had 
thick clouds obscuring what would have been a beautiful sight.

Later this month on the morning of Tuesday, August 28 we'll have a 
chance to see another total lunar eclipse in almost opposite 
circumstances:  A full moon setting in the middle of a total lunar 
eclipse.  For some early commuters this site might add some 
pizzazz to their morning drive. 

The partial phase begins at 04:51 a.m. EDT when the earth's shadow 
begins to cover a brilliant full moon.  As viewed from Westminster 
the moon will already be low in the southwestern sky.   For the 
next hour Earth's shadow slowly devours the moon as it becomes 
dramatically dimmer.  Totality begins at 05:52 a.m. EDT.  

By now the morning sky will be growing bright in twilight and that 
can make the moon difficult to see if it's been greatly dimmed.  A 
pair of binoculars pre-focused on the moon will make recovering 
the moon easier.  How do you pre-focus your binoculars?  By 
beginning to observe the event before totality begins.

The color of the fully eclipsed moon varies from eclipse to 
eclipse.  It can be a bright orange-ish red or copper color all 
the way down to a deep dusky gray.  You can judge it for yourself 
for the next 42 minutes until the moon sets for Westminster ob 
servers at 06:35 a.m. EDT.  

According to Sky & Telescope magazine the next eclipse visible for 
us will be on February 21, 2008.