2010-12-21

Lunar Eclipse Gives Celestial Show Over United States

The Washington Monument is seen as the full moon is shadowed by the Earth during a total lunar eclipse on the arrival of the winter solstice, Tuesday, December 21, 2010 in Washington, DC. From beginning to end, the eclipse lasted about three hours and twenty-eight minutes. UPI/Bill Ingalls/NASA Photo via Newscom


Lunar Eclipse Gives Celestial Show Over Western Hemisphere

Tuesday, December 21st

Sky watchers in many parts of the United States braved frigid temperatures Tuesday morning to view the pre-dawn total lunar eclipse that was also seen across parts of two other continents.
Astronomy lovers watched as the moon disappeared into complete darkness for 72 minutes, a result of the Earth passing between the moon and the sun. During that time, the moon's surface changed from bright silver to a dark red color. The entire event lasted for nearly three-and-a-half hours.
It was the first total lunar eclipse to fall on the winter solstice – the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere – in 372 years.
Residents in Central America, Iceland and Greenland also saw the full eclipse, while viewers in western Europe witnessed the event at its beginning stages before moonset.
The eclipse was only partly visible in parts of Africa and Asia.
Two more total lunar eclipses will occur in 2011, but scientists at the U.S. space agency NASA say the continental United States will not see another one until April 15, 2014.



TRUCKEE, CA - DECEMBER 21: A total lunar eclipse occurs as the full moon is shadowed by the Earth on the arrival of the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, on December 21, 2010 in Truckee, California. The lunar eclipse has not coincided with the Winter Solstice since 1638. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Getty Images)

The near total lunar eclipse is shown in these three combo photos on the arrival of the winter solstice, Tuesday, December 21, 2010 in Washington, DC. From beginning to end, the eclipse lasted about three hours and twenty-eight minutes. UPI/Bill Ingalls/NASA Photo via Newscom

Lunar Eclipse Gives Celestial Show article came from blog.voanews.com

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