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(Rank: Mileva Einstein^2)

Will you be looking for the eclipse of the moon on Saturday?

If the sky is clear on Saturday night the first total eclipse of the Moon for three years should be visible.

The Moon will appear a shade of brown, coppery-red or orange, an effect that will be visible from all continents.

During the period of totality, from 10.24pm to 11.58pm, the Moon will only be illuminated by light filtered through the Earth's atmosphere.

Its precise appearance depends on the amount of dust in the atmosphere: following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1992, which released large amounts of volcanic ash, the eclipsed Moon was nearly invisible.

As the Earth has not had a major eruption for some years "we can expect an impressive sight", said Ian Morison of the University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank Observatory.

"If there were astronauts on the Moon looking at Earth during a total lunar eclipse they would see a black disc surrounded by a bright red ring. It is the light from this ring that we see reflected by the Moon's surface."

Such an eclipse described in the Bible as the Moon "turned to blood" helped scientists to fix the date of the Crucifixion as Friday, April 3, AD 33.

Supplement from 03/01/2007 05:42pm:

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/12feb_lunareclipse.htm copy

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Asked in eclipse, space, astronomy asked on: 03/01/2007 05:40pm

closed on: 03/08/2007 05:40pm

10 Answers

Paul_Rook

Rank: Max Planck (9,780) | IQ (243), astronomy (49), space (26)

4 minutes after the question was opened (03/01/2007 05:43pm)

yes it might be worth a look, i remember when we had the eclipse of the sun that was fantastic to actully see so i will have to see the lunar one if i can.

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Rank: Novice (16)

8 minutes after the question was opened (03/01/2007 05:47pm)

yeah i love moon stuff i hope the night is clear

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Rank: Doctorate (1,914) | IQ (187), eclipse (23), space (21)

10 minutes after the question was opened (03/01/2007 05:49pm)

Unfortunately the light pollution in Hackney only allows us the occasional glimpse of a full moon here. We calls them Mugger's Moons in these here parts...

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Rank: Student (274) | IQ (9)

13 minutes after the question was opened (03/01/2007 05:52pm)

dont no much about eclipses, would be nice to see though, been bit cloudy here all week.

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Rank: Isaac Newton (10,388) | IQ (363), astronomy (193), space (46)

17 minutes after the question was opened (03/01/2007 05:56pm)

I sure will, and I'll be playing Voodoo Chile, Slight Return.

#Well, the night I was born
Lord I swear the moon turned a fire red
The night I was born
I swear the moon turned a fire red
Well my poor mother cried out lord, the gypsy was right!
And I seen her fell down right dead
(have mercy)#

Supplement from 03/01/2007 05:56pm:

No slight return, just Voodoo Chile. :-S

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Rank: Bachelor (913) | IQ (64)

5 hours after the question was opened (03/01/2007 10:13pm)

Birthday party of a friend, with very salubrious entertainment, hope that I will manage to watch the moon!

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5 hours after the question was opened (03/01/2007 10:23pm)

No, I think I know where to find it.

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Rank: Novice (67) | IQ (12), general information (6)

5 hours after the question was opened (03/01/2007 10:37pm)

Yes certainly I want to see it, I saw one some years ago and remember just how beautiful it was. Freezing cold night that was so I am hoping for milder conditions this time.

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Rank: Bachelor (836) | IQ (73), astronomy (27), eclipse (8)

6 hours after the question was opened (03/01/2007 10:47pm)

I honestly didn't know about it until I came on here this morning. I most certainly will try and see it. I think I missed the last eclipse, so i'll make sure I catch this one.

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