WHERE: AT EXPLORIT Science Center, 3141 5th Street, Davis.

Join us Wednesday evening, Oct. 27th, from 7:00-10:00p.m. when we will view (weather permitting) and discus the total eclipse of the moon. Totality begins at 7:23 pm, peaks at 8:04pm, and ends at 8.44pm. As the moon rises at 5:57pm, we will observe the moon going through all its phases in a short span as it slowly enters the Earth's shadow from 6:14pm - 7:23pm. Then for about 80 minutes, the moon will appear dark and reddened. From 8:44pm - 9:53pm, we will observe the moon going through all it's phases in reverse order as it leaves earth's shadow.

Eclipses occur when the earth, moon, and sun line up in straight line while each is moving in its own orbit. When earth happens to be in the middle, we observe a lunar eclipse, and when the moon is in the middle we have a solar eclipse.

Lunar eclipses occur on or very close to the full moon phase. At this time the moon is on the opposite side of the earth from the sun. The moon is darkened as all (total eclipse) or some (partial eclipse) of the sun's light is blocked by the earth. Because the earth is much bigger than the moon, its shadow cone encompasses the moon. Lunar eclipses are thus visible from all the night half of the earth.

Solar eclipses occur on or close to the new moon phase when the moon is between the earth and the sun. Even though the moon is much smaller than the sun, it appears the same size in the sky because of its close proximity to the earth. Because of this incredible co-incidence, the moon obscures the sun either completely (total eclipse), partly (partial eclipse), or nearly (annular or ring eclipse). As the shadow cone of the moon is relatively small, only a small area on the earth's surface witnesses a solar eclipse.

Eclipses do not happen on every new and full moon. This is because the orbit of the moon is inclined by 5 degrees from the orbital (ecliptical) plane of the earth. Most of the time, the moon is either above or below this plane and hence the earth, moon, and sun do not line up. At the two points called nodes where the earth's and the moon's orbital planes intersect, we can get eclipses. Generally, in a year there are 2 eclipse seasons six months apart, each with a possibility of one solar eclipse and one lunar eclipse.

Eclipses are spectacular events to see from the moment that earth enters the moon's shadow cone (in a solar eclipse) or moon enters the earth's shadow cone (in a lunar eclipse). Solar eclipses allow scientists to study the surface of the sun as most or all the sunlight is blocked off. During a lunar eclipse, the moon does not completely disappear. It usually appears somewhat reddened to grey in color because of light scattered by the earth's atmosphere. Ancient Greeks deduced that the earth is spherical in shape from observing the round shape of the earth's shadow on the moon's surface. As the moon is slowly moving away from earth, there will come a time when the observers on earth will not be able to witness eclipses.

OCTOBER SKY
There are no bright planets visible in the night sky. Venus is dazzling bright (mag. -4.0 in Leo) in the predawn hours. Saturn (mag. +0.2 in Gemini) rises in the middle of the night. Mars and Jupiter rise after sunrise.
Partial solar eclipse: Oct. 13 (visible Japan, Siberia, Alaska, etc.).
Total lunar eclipse: Oct. 27, 8pm.
Orionid meteor shower peak: Oct. 21.
Moon's phases are: Last Quarter: Oct. 6/Nov. 4, New Moon: Oct. 13, First Quarter: Oct. 20, and Full Moon: Oct. 27.
Contact Vinita Domier at vcdomier@yahoo.com to receive these bulletins via e-mail.


Host: Vinita & Calvin Domier
(530)756-7443 vcdomier@yahoo.com

To Receive These Bulletins via E-mail Contact Explorit at: Explorit Science Center

The Astronomy Club is for everyone - adults, children, knowledgeable or ignorant. Come to listen, look and learn, or to share your expertise or experience.