Weather Could Prevent Viewing of Lunar Eclipse

This year's total lunar eclipse is also called the Christmas lunar eclipse, as it happens a few days before Christmas.  It is expected to last three hours and 28 minutes tonight, but residents of Apple Valley might have a hard time seeing it, said District 196 community education employee Steve Engel.

"I don't think the weather's going to cooperate for us tonight, unfortunately," said Engel, who also teaches family astronomy classes through the city's Parks and Recreation Department.

Although this is the second lunar eclipse of 2010, it is the first total lunar eclipse since Feb. 20, 2008. And, astonishingly, the last total lunar eclipse that occurred simultaneously with Winter Solstice, as it is tonight, last happened in the year 1638.

This last lunar eclipse of 2010 is especially well-placed for observers throughout North America, according to NASA's eclipse website.

Engel said if the clouds do break up overnight, or if there only are high, thin clouds, it might still be possible to see the eclipse. It should be visible from anywhere in Apple Valley, though it's especially vivid to watch from a location away from city lights, he said.

If you want to try to see what you can see, here's when to do it (CST):

12:33 a.m. — partial eclipse begins

1:41 a.m. — total eclipse begins

2:17 a.m. — mid-eclipse

2:53 a.m. — total eclipse ends

4:01 a.m. — partial eclipse ends

The last eclipse this year happened on June 26, but it was nowhere near as vivid as tonight's is expected to be. Engel said the next opportunity to see a total lunar eclipse would be Dec. 10 next year.

"After that it's a long wait," he said.

The color and brightness of the totally eclipsed moon, according to NASA, should be a dark eclipse because of Indonesia's Mount Merapi recent volcanic eruptions. Dark eclipses are caused by volcanic gas and dust that filter and block much of the sun's light from reaching the moon, according to the website.

The total eclipse phase is going to be bright red and orange.

When the moon is completely concealed by Earth, this is known by space experts as totality. Tonight's totality will last just slightly more 72 minutes, something NASA officials say is "quite a bit longer than the last total lunar eclipse."

If the clouds do break up and you get pictures of the eclipse in any of its phases, make sure to post them here.