Something's Up at the Morehead Planetarium

News Release
Contact: Lee Shapiro, Morehead Planetarium
(919) 962-1237

September 18, 1996

Look Out! The Moon's Fading!

On Thursday night, September 26-27, the Moon will fade from view as it moves into the shadow of the Earth during a total lunar eclipse. Don't worry, it will completely reappear within a couple of hours. Some of you may recall the total lunar eclipse on April 3 of this year, when the Moon rose in eclipse. This time the eclipse is better timed and at least those of us in the eastern half of the United States will get to see all of the eclipse. The sequence of events for the eclipse is as follows:

Thurs. Sept. 26    9:12 PM EDT  Partial lunar eclipse begins
                  10:19 PM EDT  Total lunar eclipse begins
                  10:54 PM EDT  middle of eclipse
                  11:29 PM EDT Total lunar eclipse ends 
Fri. Sept. 27     12:36 AM EDT Partial lunar eclipse ends

As an added highlight, the Moon is close to the planet Saturn and passes three degrees north-northwest of Saturn at 11 PM while in total eclipse. Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is perfectly safe to view. This is because there is no danger in viewing the Full Moon and an eclipse dows not enhance the brightness of the Moon. As a further twist, lunar eclipses occur near a Full Moon, and this particular Full Moon is the Harvest Moon. Farmers traditionally gather the harvest by the light of the Harvest Moon. The eclipse tends to detract from that usual advantage for farmers.

The Morehead Planetarium will be hosting a public viewing session of the total lunar eclipse on Thursday night, from 9 PM until midnight, if weather conditions permit. The observing session will be held in front of the Planetarium in the vicinity of the Sundial. The Planetarium will have staff on hand to answer questions and point out celestial sights. Though the Planetarium will have a few of its telescopes on hand, viewers are welcome to bring their own telescopes if they so desire. However, good viewing is certainly possible with the unaided eye or binoculars.

The Planetarium is also hosting a planetarium members-only presentation on Saturday afternoon, September 21, to discuss both the lunar eclipse and the upcoming brightening of Comet Hale-Bopp. The comet, which is already at naked-eye visibility in the evening sky, will be at its brightest in late March, 1997. The presentation will be free to Planetarium members. The Planetarium's public Sky Rambles presentations on September 19, 20, & 26 will also mention the lunar eclipse among the many other si ghts visible in the current night sky.

For recorded show information on all Star Theater presentations, call 549-6863 or Tar Heel Talk at 549-6711, code 8041.

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Created September 19, 1996
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