On the morning of March 23, 2016, providing the skies are clear, we’ll have a chance to see a subtle eclipse of the moon.
Although it won’t be anything spectacular, observant people will be able to see a faint shadow brushing across the moon. It’ll be visible across North America, and here in Kindersley we’ll have the chance to see the entire eclipse, supposing there is no cloud-cover.
Called a penumbral eclipse, it’ll occur because the sun, earth, and moon will be in the typical lunar eclipse configuration, but not perfectly aligned. Penumbral eclipses are a far cry from the splendor of total eclipses, and they don’t even take a “bite” of the moon, like partial eclipses. So if you witnessed last September’s spectacular blood moon eclipse, don’t expect this one to be anything like it. Only sharp-sighted people are usually able to detect the faint shadow that crosses the moon’s surface during penumbral eclipses. However, if you love the moon and don’t mind getting up a few minutes early anyway, this’ll be a chance to see if YOU are among the few people who can see this type of event.
The best time to look will be just before dawn. The penumbral eclipse will be at its height at 11:47 UTC, which translates to 5:47 a.m. CST. If you stare real hard at the lunar surface, you might be able to discern a faint shadow crossing it. This is the Earth’s shadow—THAT’S US!!!!! Let that sink in awhile. If you don’t see it, don’t worry…most people can’t, either. Just enjoy the full moon. It’s a beautiful sight, at any time.
When looking at a full moon, I love to think about all the people who’ve stood on it. Twelve human beings, on six different missions. High-resolution lunar images still show their foot-trails and discarded gear. It’s fascinating to think about. It gives you a real appreciation for how far science has come in the last few centuries.
Here’s hoping the clouds will stay away tomorrow!!!!
