Lunar eclipse
May 13, 2003 8:33 AM Subscribe
Total Lunar Eclipse Coming May 15-16 with prime viewing in the US, Europe, and Africa. Looks like the best viewing will be thursday night, on the east coast of the US.
More info: approximate times for different time zones are also here.
If you're interested, you could call your local observatory, as they might be putting on a show, and maybe letting you use their telescopes (for example in Florida and Illinois). If you're going out to observe, head away from urban lights; those towards the west of the eclipse zone could look for elevated ground from which to look east. Binoculars and telescopes work well for observing the moon.
Different peoples have interpreted eclipses in different ways, for example in Sanskrit, Hindu, and other traditions. For further exploration, check out Gary Agranat's 'Astronomy and Culture' links.
posted by carter at 9:06 AM on May 13, 2003
If you're interested, you could call your local observatory, as they might be putting on a show, and maybe letting you use their telescopes (for example in Florida and Illinois). If you're going out to observe, head away from urban lights; those towards the west of the eclipse zone could look for elevated ground from which to look east. Binoculars and telescopes work well for observing the moon.
Different peoples have interpreted eclipses in different ways, for example in Sanskrit, Hindu, and other traditions. For further exploration, check out Gary Agranat's 'Astronomy and Culture' links.
posted by carter at 9:06 AM on May 13, 2003
Go see the Matrix some other time. Seriously, eclipses are very cool.
They keep on showing the movie after opening night, after all.
On the other hand, it is only a lunar eclipse....and those are not so rare.
posted by crunchburger at 9:25 AM on May 13, 2003
They keep on showing the movie after opening night, after all.
On the other hand, it is only a lunar eclipse....and those are not so rare.
posted by crunchburger at 9:25 AM on May 13, 2003
Perfect viewing location, but lousy weather conditions forecast. Wonderful.
posted by yhbc at 9:28 AM on May 13, 2003
posted by yhbc at 9:28 AM on May 13, 2003
Make that two of us that will be watching in Jersey.
I remember being a little kid and staying up late one night to watch a lunar eclipse from my kitchen window. I was the only one who stayed up for it. While I don't remember it being an awe-inspiring experience (it was slower and much less dramatic than I expected), the event does stand out in memory. I'm looking forward to experiencing this as an adult...
posted by MsVader at 9:48 AM on May 13, 2003
I remember being a little kid and staying up late one night to watch a lunar eclipse from my kitchen window. I was the only one who stayed up for it. While I don't remember it being an awe-inspiring experience (it was slower and much less dramatic than I expected), the event does stand out in memory. I'm looking forward to experiencing this as an adult...
posted by MsVader at 9:48 AM on May 13, 2003
gah! we've been having lots of rain and cloud cover, it might not clear up in time.
remember being a little kid and staying up late one night to watch a lunar eclipse
me too, as well as a solar eclipse, and the the aurora borealis, which no one told me about in advance. when all these lights and colours flooded into my bedroom in the middle of the night 5 year old me thought the world had come to an end, heh. i rushed to the window for an unbelievable sight and thought "well if this is the end, it sure is a beautiful way to go!" there's nothing like the sky at night...
I'll be sitting in a theatre watching the Matrix
gosh, see it another night, these are real special effects...!
(besides the folks i know who've seen advance screenings have been really disappointed)
posted by t r a c y at 10:15 AM on May 13, 2003
remember being a little kid and staying up late one night to watch a lunar eclipse
me too, as well as a solar eclipse, and the the aurora borealis, which no one told me about in advance. when all these lights and colours flooded into my bedroom in the middle of the night 5 year old me thought the world had come to an end, heh. i rushed to the window for an unbelievable sight and thought "well if this is the end, it sure is a beautiful way to go!" there's nothing like the sky at night...
I'll be sitting in a theatre watching the Matrix
gosh, see it another night, these are real special effects...!
(besides the folks i know who've seen advance screenings have been really disappointed)
posted by t r a c y at 10:15 AM on May 13, 2003
use your power to make the moon turn blood-red and disappear to impress your friends and quash your enemies: columbus tricked the natives of jamaica into giving his men food and water with a predicted lunar eclipse, february 29, 1504.
posted by steef at 10:21 AM on May 13, 2003
posted by steef at 10:21 AM on May 13, 2003
If you want to see something really special, wait for the next total eclipse of the heart.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 10:50 AM on May 13, 2003
posted by mr_crash_davis at 10:50 AM on May 13, 2003
Coincidence?
Only 1 to 9 days left until the earth possibly stops rotating!
posted by computerface at 10:58 AM on May 13, 2003
Only 1 to 9 days left until the earth possibly stops rotating!
posted by computerface at 10:58 AM on May 13, 2003
MsVader and other fellow Jerseyites: weather permitting, there will be public telescope viewing in Riker Hill Art Park in Livingston (directions) from 9PM until midnight.
posted by Songdog at 11:42 AM on May 13, 2003
posted by Songdog at 11:42 AM on May 13, 2003
"gosh, see it another night, these are real special effects"
I know. I'm torn. I really wanted to get some hi-res pictures. But I agreed to wait in line with some folks. I don't want to back out on that and leave them hanging. And I don't think I can stand in line for two hours and then wander out to the parking lot as everyone else goes in.
Poop.
posted by y6y6y6 at 11:43 AM on May 13, 2003
I know. I'm torn. I really wanted to get some hi-res pictures. But I agreed to wait in line with some folks. I don't want to back out on that and leave them hanging. And I don't think I can stand in line for two hours and then wander out to the parking lot as everyone else goes in.
Poop.
posted by y6y6y6 at 11:43 AM on May 13, 2003
Weather permitting, I'll see it go from partial to total while standing in line FOR The Matrix.
;)
Two shows in one evening. Very nice.
posted by linux at 11:48 AM on May 13, 2003
;)
Two shows in one evening. Very nice.
posted by linux at 11:48 AM on May 13, 2003
Thanks for the info, Songdog! I'm going to try to check it out (since I don't have a telescope). I'm wondering how much the light pollution from NYC will affect the view...
posted by MsVader at 12:07 PM on May 13, 2003
posted by MsVader at 12:07 PM on May 13, 2003
Legs: Hey, I heard there's a lunar eclipse tonight. Maybe we should look up.
Louie: Nah. For me, it's solar or nothing. [Insane Clown Poppy]
posted by Gary at 1:39 PM on May 13, 2003
Louie: Nah. For me, it's solar or nothing. [Insane Clown Poppy]
posted by Gary at 1:39 PM on May 13, 2003
Oh come on. We all know NASA stages these so-called "eclipses" on a movie set... Gawd, you people are gullible enough to believe anything even remotely true.
posted by drstrangelove at 5:38 PM on May 13, 2003
posted by drstrangelove at 5:38 PM on May 13, 2003
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posted by y6y6y6 at 8:48 AM on May 13, 2003