Reminder: Eclipse of the moon roughly 3am.

[jack]

As several people have reminded people already, if you like seeing celestial mechanics in action, you won't be able to see the moon for several hours about around 03:00 GMT tonight. It may be wise to look now for comparison: if the moon is obscured from the sun by the earth, that's a lunar eclipse, if the earth is obscured from the sun by the moon, that's a solar eclipse, but if the sun is obscured by the earth from you, that's night, that's no less special, but happens every day night, and the moon being obscured from you by the moon is also normal, and happens every month[1], and the moon being obscured from the earth by the earth is also normal, and also happens every day, but doesn't have such a good name, except "after moonset".

[1] Pedant note, yes it DOES happen every month. Sometimes twice :)

Comments

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

> the moon being obscured from you by the moon is also normal, and happens every month

Well, the side of the moon that is illuminated by the sun is obscured from you by the unlit side of the moon that happens to be entirely facing Earth at New Moon.

Now, an eclipse where the sun comes between the earth and the moon, that's something I don't want to be around for.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

ROFL. Yes. I think I can predict with confidence you won't be, one way or another :)

(Of course, if the moon is ejected and flies away behind the sun it might not be *as* bad.)

[rysmiel.livejournal.com]

I far prefer living somewhere the eclipses happen at a reasonable hour of the night.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

:) Indeed. Conveniently, I've just spent two-and-half hours writing an email, so it all balances out... :)

[senji.livejournal.com]

Awkward further pedant note — occasionally it doesn't happen in February.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, apologies! I was thinking of Feb, but I'd thought a lunar month was just under four weeks rather than just over; you're entirely right.