Rare total lunar eclipse sets the moon and sky ablaze
by Steven Mostyn - Dec 21 2010, 09:26
The event in action. Image: t_stehilaire/Flickr.
Clear skies permitting, stargazing enthusiasts around the world have today been fortunate enough to watch a dazzling total lunar eclipse that temporarily turned the moon and sky an eerie red.
The rare cosmic event, which is known as a selenelion and occurs when the earth passes precisely between sun and moon (both of which can be seen simultaneously), is even more noteworthy as it took place on the same day as the winter solstice.
The selenelion began at around 6:32 a.m. GMT as the moon began to creep through the Earth’s shadow, with the satellite’s gradual eclipse reaching its peak at just after 8:15 a.m. GMT.
Sky News reports that UK viewers located in Scotland and Northern Ireland probably stood the greatest chance of witnessing the lunar eclipse, which, unlike a solar eclipse, was perfectly safe to observe.
Not just visible in the early morning skies of the UK, the lunar eclipse was also seen across North and Central America, regions of mainland Europe and even Asia—although it was not so vivid in the latter.
The last time a lunar eclipse fell on the winter solstice was 372 years ago on Dec. 21, 1638. According to the U.S. Naval Observatory, the next time it is expected to happen is on Dec. 21, 2094.
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