Lunar Eclipse 2008

In North America, tomorrow night will provide a glimpse of this year’s only total eclipse of the moon.  For those in the central time zone, the full lunar eclipse should occur at 9:01 pm.   

Weather forecasters are predicting partly cloudy skies in Dallas, which means we have a 50/50 chance of catching it.  Let’s hope for clear skies.  If we miss it this time, the next full eclipse won’t happen until late December, 2010. 

If it’s clear, I’m going to pull out the telescope to get a closer view of the action.  Saturn should be nearby along with the bright bluish star, Regulus. 

Throughout history, lunar eclipses have had an unusual effect on people.  Some feared them as a bad omen; others used them to their advantage.  One of the most famous examples of this is Christopher Columbus.   Stranded in Jamaica and running out of food, Columbus found himself at odds with the locals who had tired of providing sustenance for him and his crew.  Columbus studied his astronomical tables and learned that a lunar eclipse was forthcoming.  Seizing the opportunity, he told the native leaders that the Christian God was angry with the people because they refused to supply food.  To prove his point, he warned that the moon would disappear.  The following night, the moon turned red and was hidden by earth’s shadow during the eclipse.   The natives were terrified.  They came to Columbus with food and pleaded for him to intercede on their behalf.  Of course, he did, and the rest is history.  His men were well supplied until they were rescued a few months later. 

Interesting…huh?