If it wasn't raining, an unspectacular lunar eclipse would be nearly
over by the time the full moon rises at 5:32 p.m. tonight.
I wrote a little "Ten Things to know about the Penumbral Lunar eclipse"
article today.
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/2017/02/10/10-things-to-know-the-february-…
<https://webmail.jpl.nasa.gov/owa/redir.aspx?C=hJ06W8fhgGGIwmpq46cN2jQFIEiqi…>
If you use the platform Tumblr, NASA has a nice product about the
eclipse here, and you don't have to be a Tumblr use to see it.
http://nasa.tumblr.com/post/157061320334/subtle-lunar-eclipse
<https://webmail.jpl.nasa.gov/owa/redir.aspx?C=rBy2H9omf2dAN486pO0nqzTGWS3EU…>
Finally, I really like the Time and Date website eclipse graphics.
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2017-february-11
<https://webmail.jpl.nasa.gov/owa/redir.aspx?C=0K6xZpGe2cUCwBHrj-bdJdiKzJx1N…>
Looks like our next Sidewalk Astronomy night will be March 4 and there
will be an interesting celestial event. Around 19:09 PST on March 4,
the almost-half Moon occults the red giant star Aldebaran. This might be
a naked eye disappearance for the sharp-eyed. Everyone else should use
binoculars or a small telescope. You CAN do this at home. If you can
find the moon you have a chance to watch the moon pass in front of the
star. The time is the exact time for La Canada Flintridge, so it will
be a little different depending on where you are located. For those
coming to the sidewalk maybe we'll have one of the telescopes with a
videocamera attached and a monitor to view this special event, so more
people can see it. Here is a nice writeup of who can see this event.
The reappearance is on the lighted hemisphere around 20:27 PST and will
require binoculars or telescope. The color difference between star and
Moon will be striking. Thanks to Steve Edberg and Tom Traeger for the
heads up!
Jane
--
Jane Houston Jones
@jhjones @otastro
What's Up Feb? Use Venus and Mars to find the Zodiacal Light, plus two comets and the brightest asteroid. https://youtu.be/HT2htvbcmm8
New: Ten Things Blog https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/category/10things
