A sight not seen in 372 years, the Total Lunar Eclipse on this winter solstice will shine its coppery red hue down upon us. It will be the first time that a total lunar eclipse coincides with the winter solstice since 1638 (UPDATED : Credit: Geoff Chester of the US Naval Observatory).
On early morning this Tuesday the 21st of December, The eclipse will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere. Starting at 1:33AM EST, the moon will be partially eclipsed. The moon will reach totality at 2:41AM EST, and it will last a generous 72 minutes. It will return to partiality at 3:53AM EST, and will end at 5:01AM EST.
The best time to view the coppery red hue of the totality will be during its mid-point at 3:17AM EST.
The coppery red hue is a result of the many sunrises and sunsets ringing the Earth at the time of the eclipse. The Earth’s atmosphere scatters and bends the sunlight giving it a penny-like coppery red color.
Here’s hoping the weather in the US will allow optimal viewing of this rare event.
To study a star, is to study the past.
Peace
G
UPDATE: Science@NASA has updated their Coincidence Information (The last Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse was in 1638).
@Thanks to Sky & Telescope and Science@NASA
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