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Lunar Eclipse

August 26, 2007 on 5:12 pm | In Astronomy, Moon, Sun |

The Earth will cast a shadow that will creep across the surface of the Moon on early Tuesday morning, resulting in a total eclipse of the Moon. An eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the sun and the moon, blocking the sun’s light. During the full eclipse, the moon will not be completely dark because some light still reaches it around the edges of the Earth. The eclipse will be visible in both North and South America, as well as in East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. The eclipse will not be visible in Europe or Africa. The lunar eclipse lasts about three and a half hours.

The colour of the Moon can vary considerably from one eclipse to another. A dark eclipse is caused by dust which filters and blocks much of the Sun’s light from reaching the Moon. Since no major volcanic eruptions have recently taken place recently the Moon will probably be a bright red or orange colour. The mid-eclipse will start at about 10:37 GMT, which corresponds to early evening in Sydney, Australia and a few hours before sunrise in Los Angeles, California.