Hi guys,
Info on the Eclipse below:
There is a total lunar eclipse on the morning of the 21st. The moon starts to enter the umbra at 06:32 when it will be 20° above the horizon in the NW and is fully inside the Earth’s inner shadow by 07:40, 7° above the horizon. Mid-Eclipse is at 08:17 when the moon is in the N of the umbra and the S limb should appear darker than the N limb and it lies only 3° above the horizon. The brightening pre-dawn sky and the low altitude of the moon will add difficulty to observing the event, but take advantage if you can as the next lunar eclipse in which mid-totality will be visible from Ireland is not until 2015.
In addition, there may be a chance with this eclipse to observe a phenomenon called a Selenelion. This occurs when the sun and the eclipsed moon can be observed at the same time. This can only happen just before sunset or just after sunrise, and both bodies will appear just above the horizon at nearly opposite points in the sky. This arrangement has led to the phenomenon being referred to as a horizontal eclipse.
It happens during every lunar eclipse at all those places on the Earth where it is sunrise or sunset at the time. For this one, sunrise is at 08:44 and the moon sets at 08:55, so have a go at it.
Neill
