Astronomy
Course Description
Definition of astronomy: Astronomy is the study of the sun, moon, stars, planets, comets, gas, galaxies, gas, dust and other non-Earthly bodies and phenomena.
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Sunday, September 27
Because tonight’s Full Moon is the closest of the year, many people and the media refer to it as 2015’s Super Moon. And while that’s cool, it’s not the most special thing about our satellite this evening. Indeed, viewers under a clear sky across North America will witness a total lunar eclipse. The penumbral eclipse starts at 8:12 p.m. EDT. This moment marks when the Moon enters Earth’s lighter outer shadow. If you don’t notice the start, you won’t be alone. Most people don’t spot any change to the Moon’s appearance until just before the partial eclipse begins. That moment happens at 9:07 p.m. EDT. The Moon begins to enter Earth’s dark inner shadow, called the umbra. The Moon is completely in the umbra at 10:11 p.m. EDT. That’s when totality begins. But relax. Unlike total solar eclipses, whose totalities last a maximum of 7½ minutes, the Moon will remain totally eclipsed for 72 minutes. Mid-eclipse — sometimes called greatest eclipse — occurs at 10:47 p.m. EDT. From this point, everything about the eclipse begins to play itself in reverse. Totality ends at 11:23 p.m. EDT. The partial eclipse ends at 12:27 a.m. EDT, and the entire event comes to a not-so-dramatic conclusion as the Moon slips out of Earth’s penumbra at 1:22 a.m. EDT. During totality, keep an eye on the different illuminations on different parts of the Moon. Our satellite doesn’t plow through the center of Earth’s shadow, but rather passes south of that point. So, the southern end of the Moon will lie closer to the edge of Earth’s umbra and will appear lighter.
Because tonight’s Full Moon is the closest of the year, many people and the media refer to it as 2015’s Super Moon. And while that’s cool, it’s not the most special thing about our satellite this evening. Indeed, viewers under a clear sky across North America will witness a total lunar eclipse. The penumbral eclipse starts at 8:12 p.m. EDT. This moment marks when the Moon enters Earth’s lighter outer shadow. If you don’t notice the start, you won’t be alone. Most people don’t spot any change to the Moon’s appearance until just before the partial eclipse begins. That moment happens at 9:07 p.m. EDT. The Moon begins to enter Earth’s dark inner shadow, called the umbra. The Moon is completely in the umbra at 10:11 p.m. EDT. That’s when totality begins. But relax. Unlike total solar eclipses, whose totalities last a maximum of 7½ minutes, the Moon will remain totally eclipsed for 72 minutes. Mid-eclipse — sometimes called greatest eclipse — occurs at 10:47 p.m. EDT. From this point, everything about the eclipse begins to play itself in reverse. Totality ends at 11:23 p.m. EDT. The partial eclipse ends at 12:27 a.m. EDT, and the entire event comes to a not-so-dramatic conclusion as the Moon slips out of Earth’s penumbra at 1:22 a.m. EDT. During totality, keep an eye on the different illuminations on different parts of the Moon. Our satellite doesn’t plow through the center of Earth’s shadow, but rather passes south of that point. So, the southern end of the Moon will lie closer to the edge of Earth’s umbra and will appear lighter.