Star Points for February, 2008; by Curtis Roelle
Total Lunar Eclipse Heats Up February Sky


Last year the mid Atlantic region experienced parts of two total 
lunar eclipses with poor results.  In March the eclipse was already 
well under way by the time that the moon rose; in August the 
eclipsed moon set before the eclipse was over – and clouds or hazes 
interfered with both eclipses.  This month we'll have a chance to 
see an entire total lunar eclipse from start to finish, weather 
permitting.

Mark you calendars for the evening of Wednesday, February 20.  In 
the early evening the full moon should be the easiest thing in the 
world -- or above it -- to find.  Looking at the full moon around 8 
p.m. EST notice how few stars are visible around it. That's because 
the moon's bright glare is blotting them out. You might notice one 
bright star to the left of the moon.  That's no star, however: It's 
the planet Saturn.

The moon begins to enter the earth's dark umbral shadow 43 minutes 
later at 8:43 p.m. At that time the lower edge of the moon will 
start turning dark as it glides into the earth's shadow.  The 
deeper into earth's shadow it goes, the dimmer the moon appears, 
and the dimmer it gets the more stars that appear.

By 10:00 p.m. the moon will be completely engulfed within the 
earth's umbra and the total phase of the eclipse begins.  Located 
in the constellation Leo, the 1st magnitude star Regulus is just 
above and slightly to the right of the moon.  Low power binoculars 
will show the moon, Saturn, and Regulus in the same field of view. 
The cause of Saturn's elongated appearance in binoculars are its 
rings.

As mid eclipse approaches at 10:26 p.m. pay attention to the 
different colors visible on the moon.  Can you see shades of 
orange, red, brown, or yellow?  Does the moon appear to be dark or 
light?  Believe it or not these things vary from one eclipse to the 
next. 

Totality ends at 10:52 p.m. From this time onward the moon slowly 
departs the umbral shadow and has completely exited it by 12:09 
a.m. on Thursday.

Hopefully we won't strike out for the 3rd time in a row and it will 
be a clear night for this month's eclipse. I would be interested in 
reading your e-mailed observing reports.

Retired astronaut Donald A. Thomas will be speaking at the 
February 13 meeting of the Westminster Astronomical Society, Inc. 
(WASI).  Dr. Thomas is a veteran of four space shuttle missions 
aboard the Columbia and Discovery orbiters.  The Columbia 
disintegrated during re-entry five years ago on February 1, 2003. 
 The accident killed Columbia's seven member crew. Discovery is 
currently the oldest space shuttle in service.

The WASI meeting is free, open to the public, and begins at 07:30 
p.m. in the Bear Branch Nature Center auditorium.  For more 
information visit westminsterastro.org.