no wonder why we were going off in grand style on pols and relig..full moon and lunar eclipse...

Introduction

A total eclipse of the Moon occurs during the night of Wednesday, February 20/21, 2008. The entire event is visible from South America and most of North America (on Feb. 20) as well as Western Europe, Africa, and western Asia (on Feb. 21). During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon's disk can take on a dramatically colorful appearance from bright orange to blood red to dark brown and (rarely) very dark gray.

An eclipse of the Moon can only take place at Full Moon, and only if the Moon passes through some portion of Earth's shadow. The shadow is actually composed of two cone-shaped parts, one nested inside the other. The outer shadow or penumbra is a zone where Earth blocks some (but not all) of the Sun's rays. In contrast, the inner shadow or umbra is a region where Earth blocks all direct sunlight from reaching the Moon.

If only part of the Moon passes through the umbra, a partial eclipse is seen. However, if the entire Moon passes through the umbral shadow, then a total eclipse of the Moon occurs. For more information on how, what, why, where and when of lunar eclipses, see the special web page lunar eclipses for beginners.

Lunar Eclipse Diagrams

The following diagrams show the Moon's path through Earth's shadows (higher resolution versions of the above figure). The times of major stages of the eclipse are given for a number of time zones in North America. Please choose the diagram for your own time zone. Each diagram is a GIF file with a size of about 100k.

• Eclipse Diagram for AST (Atlantic Standard Time)
  
• Eclipse Diagram for EST (Eastern Standard Time)
  
• Eclipse Diagram for CST (Central Standard Time)
  
• Eclipse Diagram for MST (Mountain Standard Time)
  
• Eclipse Diagram for PST (Pacific Standard Time)
  
• Eclipse Diagram for AST (Alaska Standard Time)
  
• Eclipse Diagram for HST (Hawaiian Standard Time)
  
  
  
• Eclipse Diagram for GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
  
• Eclipse Diagram for GMT +1 (Greenwich Mean Time + 1 Hour)
  
• Eclipse Diagram for GMT +2 (Greenwich Mean Time + 2 Hours)

Some people may be puzzled that the Moon's motion is from west to east (right to left) in these diagrams, instead of its daily east to west (left to right) motion in the sky. However, the Moon actually moves WEST to EAST (right to left in the Northern Hemisphere) with respect to the Earth's shadow and the stars.

Times and Phases of the Total Lunar Eclipse of February 20/21, 2008

From start to finish, February's lunar eclipse lasts about three hours and twenty-six minutes (not including the penumbral phases which are very difficult to see). The partial eclipse begins as the Moon's eastern edge slowly moves into the Earth's umbral shadow. During the partial phases, it takes just over an hour for the Moon's orbital motion to carry it entirely within the Earth's dark umbra. The color and brightness of the totally eclipsed Moon can vary considerably from one eclipse to another. Dark eclipses are caused by volcanic gas and dust which filters and blocks much of the Sun's light from reaching the Moon. But since no major volcanic eruptions have taken place recently, the Moon will probably take on a vivid red or orange color during the total phase. After the total phase ends, it is once again followed by a partial eclipse as the Moon gradually leaves the umbral shadow.

The total phase of a lunar eclipse is called totality. At this time, the Moon is completely immersed within the Earth's dark umbral shadow. During the February 20 eclipse totality will last just under 50 minutes. This is quite a bit less than the last total lunar eclipse ( August 28, 2007) which lasted 90 minutes.

The major phases of the eclipse occur as follows (all times are GMT or Greenwich Mean Time). The partial eclipse commences with first umbral contact at 01:43 GMT. Totality begins at 03:01 GMT and lasts until 03:51 GMT. The partial phases end at 05:09 GMT. Eclipse times for time zones in the United States and Canada are shown in the following table.

The table above provides times of the major eclipse phases for North American time zones and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Eclipse times for other time zones can be calculated by taking the difference between local time and Greenwich and adding it to the tabulated GMT times.

To determine the Moon's altitude at each stage of the eclipse as seen from your city or location, see Javascript Lunar Eclipse Explorer. This web page allows you to calculate the viewing circumstances of all lunar eclipses visible from your city over a five-thosuand year period.

Visibility of the Total Lunar Eclipse of February 20, 2008

February's lunar eclipse is well-placed for North and South America as well as Europe and Africa. Observers along North America's west coast miss the early stages of the partial eclipse because it begins before moon rise. Alaskans in Anchorage and Fairbanks experience moonrise during totality but bright evening twilight will make it difficult for sourdoughs to view the event. Western Europe and northwest Africa also see the entire eclipse. Further to the east (east Africa and central Asia), the Moon sets before the eclipse ends. None of the eclipse is visible from eastern Asia or Australia.

Preceeding and following the eclipse are hour-long penumbral phases but these are faint and quite difficult to see. The more interesting and photogenic partial and total phases always take center stage to the penumbral phases.

The map above shows the geographic regions of visibility for each phase of the eclipse. The entire eclipse is visible from start to finish in the white (unshaded) portion of the map, while none of the eclipse can be seen from the dark gray areas.

For anyone located in the blue shaded region labeled Eclipse at Moonset, this means that the Moon will set while some phase of the eclipse is already in progress. The contact curves labeled P1, U1, U2, U3, U4, and P4 represent each phase of the eclipse (see the key above). If you are east (right) of a particular curve, that phase occurs after moonset and you will not see it. However, if you are west (left) of a curve, that phase occurs before moonset and you will see it (weather permitting).

For example, on the above map Turkey lies west (left) of the U3 curve (total eclipse end) and east (right) of the curve U4 (partial eclipse ends). This means that from this region, the Moon sets during the partial phases following totality.

For observers located within the second blue shaded region labeled Eclipse at Moonrise, the situation is reversed. Here the Moon rises while some phase of the eclipse is already in progress. If you are west (left) of a particular curve (P1, U1, U2, U3, U4, or P4), that phase occurs before moonrise and you will not see it. However, if you are east (right) of a contact curve, that phase occurs after moonrise and you will see it (weather permitting).

All total eclipses start with a penumbral followed by a partial eclipse, and end with a partial followed by a penumbral eclipse (the total eclipse is sandwiched in the middle). Since the penumbral phases of the eclipse are so difficult to see, we will ignore them.

At the instant of mid-totality (03:37 GMT), the Moon will lie in the zenith for observers in French Guiana. At this time, the umbral eclipse magnitude peaks at 1.1062.

From the diagram above, it is clear that the northern (top) edge of the Moon will dip much deeper into the Earth's shadow than will the southern (bottom) edge. Since the Earth's umbral shadow is darker in the center than at the edge, the Moon's appearance will likely change dramatically with time. A large variation in shadow brightness can be expected and observers are encouraged to estimate the Danjon value at different times during totality ( Danjon Brightness Scale). Note that it may also be necessary to assign different Danjon values to different portions of the Moon at different times.

This could be an excellent opportunity for budding astronomers and students to test their observing skills. Try recording your estimates of the Moon's brightness every ten minutes during totality using the Danjon Scale. Compare your results with your companions and classmates and discover how the Moon's appearance changes during the total eclipse. The brightness of the totally eclipsed Moon is very sensitive to the presence of volcanic dust in Earth's atmosphere. As part of a continuing research project, Dr. Richard Keen has been using reports of lunar eclipse brightnesses to calculate a history of optical thicknesses of volcanic dust layers (see: What Will 2004's Lunar Eclipses Look Like?). If you'd like to help Dr. Keen by making eclipse observations, you can contact him at Richard.Keen@Colorado.EDU.

The amount of dust and sulfur dioxide in Earth's atmosphere also has an effect on the diameter of the umbral shadow. Amateur astronomers with telescopes can make careful timings of when some of the Moon's major craters enter or exit the umbra. Such observations are valuable in determining the enlargement of Earth's shadow. A table of crater predictions identifies twenty well-defined craters useful for this purpose. For more information, see: Crater Timings During Lunar Eclipses.

An eclipse of the Moon also presents a tempting subject to photograph. Since the Moon appears quite small in the sky, you'll need a fairly powerful telephoto lens (400 mm or more) or even a small telescope to attach to your camera. A typical ISO 400 speed (either digital or film) is a good choice. For more information on equipment, film, recommended exposures and additional tips, see lunar eclipse photography.

Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch. Protective filters are not necessary and neither is a telescope. A lunar eclipse can be observed with nothing more than the naked eye. However, a pair of binoculars will magnify the view and make the red coloration brighter and easier to see. A standard pair of 7x35 or 7x50 binoculars is sufficient.

During the eclipse, the Moon will be in Leo. Saturn and bright star Regulus are only 3 degrees east and west, respectively, of the Moon. Geminii, Orion, Taurus and other winter constellations will occupy the south and western sky for North American eclipse watchers. viewers.

Although total eclipses of the Moon are of limited scientific value, they are remarkably beautiful events which do not require expensive equipment. They help to cultivate interest in science and astronomy in children and to provide a unique learning opportunity for families, students and teachers. To the nature lover and naturalist, the lunar eclipse can be appreciated and celebrated as an event which vividly illustrates our place among the planets in the solar system. The three dimensional reality of our universe comes alive in a graceful celestial ballet as the Moon swings through the Earth's shadow. Hope for clear skies, dress warmly and enjoy the show!

Eclipse Frequency and Future Eclipses

During the five millennium period from 2000 BC through AD 3000, there are 7,718 eclipses[1] of the Moon (including both partial and total eclipses). From 0 to 3 lunar eclipses (partial or total) occur each year. The last time three total lunar eclipses occurred in one calendar year was in 1982. On average, partial eclipses slightly outnumber total eclipses by 7 to 6[2].

[1] Only eclipses where the Moon passes through Earth's umbral shadow are included in these values. A minor type of eclipse is the penumbral eclipse which occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's faint penumbral shadow. Penumbral eclipses are rarely discernible to the naked eye and are of lesser importance than umbral eclipses.

[2] Penumbral eclipses are excluded from these statistics.

The last total lunar eclipse visible from the entire continental United States occurred on August 28, 2007. North Americans will have their next opportunity to see a total lunar eclipse on 2010 Dec 21.

The table below lists every lunar eclipse from 2007 through 2012. Click on the eclipse Date to see a map and diagram of an eclipse. Although penumbral lunar eclipses are included in this list, they are usually quite difficult to observe because of their subtlety. The penumbra is a partial shadow which still permits some direct sunlight to reach the Moon.

The Umbral Eclipse Magnitude is the fraction on the Moon's diameter immersed in the umbra at maximum eclipse. For values of 1.0 or greater, the eclipse is total. For negative values, the eclipse is penumbral. The Total Duration is the duration of the total phase (total eclipses only).

Geographic abreviations (used above): n = north, s = south, e = east, w = west, c = central

Web Resources

• More on February's eclipse: sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/OH/OH2008.html
  
• Lunar Eclipses from 1991 to 2000: sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEcat/LEdecade1991.html
  
• Lunar Eclipses from 2001 to 2010: sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEcat/LEdecade2001.html
  
• Lunar Eclipses from 2011 to 2020: sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEcat/LEdecade2011.html
  
• 5,000 Year Catalog of Lunar Eclipses: sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEcat/LEcatalog.html
  
• Lunar Eclipses of Historical Interest: sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEhistory/LEhistory.html
  
  
  
• Sky & Telescope - Lunar Eclipse
  
  
  
• How to Photograph a Lunar Eclipse
  
• Lunar Eclipse Photography
  
  
  
• IOTA Occultations - predictions of occultations of faint stars during the eclipse
  
• More Lunar Eclipse Photography

References

• Espenak, F., 1989, Fifty Year Canon of Lunar Eclipses: 1986-2035, Sky Publishing Corp., Cambridge, MA.
  
• Espenak, F., 2006, "Eclipses During 2007", Observer's Handbook - 2007, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Toronto, Ontario.

Reproduction of Eclipse Data

All eclipse calculations are by Fred Espenak, and he assumes full responsibility for their accuracy. Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by the following acknowledgment:

"Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA's GSFC"

For more information, see: NASA Copyright Information

• no wonder why we were going off in grand style on pols and relig..full moon and lunar eclipse... - cat
  • Awesome information - Thank you!
  • No wonder I got my period early!! - tee hee

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at least they'll have something cool to contribute at school in the morning, you get to spend time with them and they may actually be interested.  Or you can just have a special moment with your spouse thinking about the first lunar eclipse you saw together.  Have fun!   Cat

Path of the Moon through Earth's umbral and penumbral shadows
during the Total Lunar Eclipse of February 20, 2008.
(Eastern Standard Time)

Introduction

A total eclipse of the Moon occurs during the night of Wednesday, February 20/21, 2008. The entire event is visible from South America and most of North America (on Feb. 20) as well as Western Europe, Africa, and western Asia (on Feb. 21). During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon's disk can take on a dramatically colorful appearance from bright orange to blood red to dark brown and (rarely) very dark gray.

An eclipse of the Moon can only take place at Full Moon, and only if the Moon passes through some portion of Earth's shadow. The shadow is actually composed of two cone-shaped parts, one nested inside the other. The outer shadow or penumbra is a zone where Earth blocks some (but not all) of the Sun's rays. In contrast, the inner shadow or umbra is a region where Earth blocks all direct sunlight from reaching the Moon.

If only part of the Moon passes through the umbra, a partial eclipse is seen. However, if the entire Moon passes through the umbral shadow, then a total eclipse of the Moon occurs. For more information on how, what, why, where and when of lunar eclipses, see the special web page lunar eclipses for beginners.

---

Lunar Eclipse Diagrams

The following diagrams show the Moon's path through Earth's shadows (higher resolution versions of the above figure). The times of major stages of the eclipse are given for a number of time zones in North America. Please choose the diagram for your own time zone. Each diagram is a GIF file with a size of about 100k.

• Eclipse Diagram for AST (Atlantic Standard Time)
  
• Eclipse Diagram for EST (Eastern Standard Time)
  
• Eclipse Diagram for CST (Central Standard Time)
  
• Eclipse Diagram for MST (Mountain Standard Time)
  
• Eclipse Diagram for PST (Pacific Standard Time)
  
• Eclipse Diagram for AST (Alaska Standard Time)
  
• Eclipse Diagram for HST (Hawaiian Standard Time)
  
  
  
• Eclipse Diagram for GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
  
• Eclipse Diagram for GMT +1 (Greenwich Mean Time + 1 Hour)
  
• Eclipse Diagram for GMT +2 (Greenwich Mean Time + 2 Hours)

Some people may be puzzled that the Moon's motion is from west to east (right to left) in these diagrams, instead of its daily east to west (left to right) motion in the sky. However, the Moon actually moves WEST to EAST (right to left in the Northern Hemisphere) with respect to the Earth's shadow and the stars.

---

Times and Phases of the Total Lunar Eclipse of February 20/21, 2008

From start to finish, February's lunar eclipse lasts about three hours and twenty-six minutes (not including the penumbral phases which are very difficult to see). The partial eclipse begins as the Moon's eastern edge slowly moves into the Earth's umbral shadow. During the partial phases, it takes just over an hour for the Moon's orbital motion to carry it entirely within the Earth's dark umbra. The color and brightness of the totally eclipsed Moon can vary considerably from one eclipse to another. Dark eclipses are caused by volcanic gas and dust which filters and blocks much of the Sun's light from reaching the Moon. But since no major volcanic eruptions have taken place recently, the Moon will probably take on a vivid red or orange color during the total phase. After the total phase ends, it is once again followed by a partial eclipse as the Moon gradually leaves the umbral shadow.

The total phase of a lunar eclipse is called totality. At this time, the Moon is completely immersed within the Earth's dark umbral shadow. During the February 20 eclipse totality will last just under 50 minutes. This is quite a bit less than the last total lunar eclipse ( August 28, 2007) which lasted 90 minutes.

The major phases of the eclipse occur as follows (all times are GMT or Greenwich Mean Time). The partial eclipse commences with first umbral contact at 01:43 GMT. Totality begins at 03:01 GMT and lasts until 03:51 GMT. The partial phases end at 05:09 GMT. Eclipse times for time zones in the United States and Canada are shown in the following table.

Total Lunar Eclipse of February 20, 2008
	North America					Other
Event	EST	CST	MST	PST	AST	GMT	GMT+1h	GMT+2h
Partial Eclipse Begins:	08:43 pm	07:43 pm	06:43 pm	05:43 pm	04:43 pm	01:43 am*	02:43 am*	03:43 am*
Total Eclipse Begins:	10:01 pm	09:01 pm	08:01 pm	07:01 pm	06:01 pm	03:01 am*	04:01 am*	05:01 am*
Mid-Eclipse:	10:26 pm	09:26 pm	08:26 pm	07:26 pm	06:26 pm	03:26 am*	04:26 am*	05:26 am*
Total Eclipse Ends:	10:51 pm	09:51 pm	08:51 pm	07:51 pm	06:51 pm	03:51 am*	04:51 am*	05:51 am*
Partial Eclipse Ends:	12:09 am*	11:09 pm	10:09 pm	09:09 pm	08:09 pm	05:09 am*	06:09 am*	07:09 am*

* Event occurs on morning of February 21, 2008

Key to Time Zones
Zone	Description
EST	Eastern Standard Time (GMT - 5 hours)
CST	Central Standard Time (GMT - 6 hours)
MST	Mountain Standard Time (GMT - 7 hours)
PST	Pacific Standard Time (GMT - 8 hours)
AST	Alaska Standard Time (GMT - 9 hours)
GMT	Greenwich Mean Time

The table above provides times of the major eclipse phases for North American time zones and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Eclipse times for other time zones can be calculated by taking the difference between local time and Greenwich and adding it to the tabulated GMT times.

To determine the Moon's altitude at each stage of the eclipse as seen from your city or location, see Javascript Lunar Eclipse Explorer. This web page allows you to calculate the viewing circumstances of all lunar eclipses visible from your city over a five-thosuand year period.

---

Visibility of the Total Lunar Eclipse of February 20, 2008

February's lunar eclipse is well-placed for North and South America as well as Europe and Africa. Observers along North America's west coast miss the early stages of the partial eclipse because it begins before moon rise. Alaskans in Anchorage and Fairbanks experience moonrise during totality but bright evening twilight will make it difficult for sourdoughs to view the event. Western Europe and northwest Africa also see the entire eclipse. Further to the east (east Africa and central Asia), the Moon sets before the eclipse ends. None of the eclipse is visible from eastern Asia or Australia.

Preceeding and following the eclipse are hour-long penumbral phases but these are faint and quite difficult to see. The more interesting and photogenic partial and total phases always take center stage to the penumbral phases.

Map showing the global visibility of the Total Lunar Eclipse of February 21, 2008.
(Click here to see larger version of this map)

Key to Eclipse Visibility Map
P1	Penumbral eclipse begins (not visible to the eye)
U1	Partial eclipse begins
U2	Total eclipse begins
U3	Total eclipse ends
U4	Partial eclipse ends
P4	Penumbral eclipse ends (not visible to the eye)

The map above shows the geographic regions of visibility for each phase of the eclipse. The entire eclipse is visible from start to finish in the white (unshaded) portion of the map, while none of the eclipse can be seen from the dark gray areas.

For anyone located in the blue shaded region labeled Eclipse at Moonset, this means that the Moon will set while some phase of the eclipse is already in progress. The contact curves labeled P1, U1, U2, U3, U4, and P4 represent each phase of the eclipse (see the key above). If you are east (right) of a particular curve, that phase occurs after moonset and you will not see it. However, if you are west (left) of a curve, that phase occurs before moonset and you will see it (weather permitting).

For example, on the above map Turkey lies west (left) of the U3 curve (total eclipse end) and east (right) of the curve U4 (partial eclipse ends). This means that from this region, the Moon sets during the partial phases following totality.

For observers located within the second blue shaded region labeled Eclipse at Moonrise, the situation is reversed. Here the Moon rises while some phase of the eclipse is already in progress. If you are west (left) of a particular curve (P1, U1, U2, U3, U4, or P4), that phase occurs before moonrise and you will not see it. However, if you are east (right) of a contact curve, that phase occurs after moonrise and you will see it (weather permitting).

All total eclipses start with a penumbral followed by a partial eclipse, and end with a partial followed by a penumbral eclipse (the total eclipse is sandwiched in the middle). Since the penumbral phases of the eclipse are so difficult to see, we will ignore them.

---

Wonderful Totality

At the instant of mid-totality (03:37 GMT), the Moon will lie in the zenith for observers in French Guiana. At this time, the umbral eclipse magnitude peaks at 1.1062.

From the diagram above, it is clear that the northern (top) edge of the Moon will dip much deeper into the Earth's shadow than will the southern (bottom) edge. Since the Earth's umbral shadow is darker in the center than at the edge, the Moon's appearance will likely change dramatically with time. A large variation in shadow brightness can be expected and observers are encouraged to estimate the Danjon value at different times during totality ( Danjon Brightness Scale). Note that it may also be necessary to assign different Danjon values to different portions of the Moon at different times.

This could be an excellent opportunity for budding astronomers and students to test their observing skills. Try recording your estimates of the Moon's brightness every ten minutes during totality using the Danjon Scale. Compare your results with your companions and classmates and discover how the Moon's appearance changes during the total eclipse. The brightness of the totally eclipsed Moon is very sensitive to the presence of volcanic dust in Earth's atmosphere. As part of a continuing research project, Dr. Richard Keen has been using reports of lunar eclipse brightnesses to calculate a history of optical thicknesses of volcanic dust layers (see: What Will 2004's Lunar Eclipses Look Like?). If you'd like to help Dr. Keen by making eclipse observations, you can contact him at Richard.Keen@Colorado.EDU.

The amount of dust and sulfur dioxide in Earth's atmosphere also has an effect on the diameter of the umbral shadow. Amateur astronomers with telescopes can make careful timings of when some of the Moon's major craters enter or exit the umbra. Such observations are valuable in determining the enlargement of Earth's shadow. A table of crater predictions identifies twenty well-defined craters useful for this purpose. For more information, see: Crater Timings During Lunar Eclipses.

An eclipse of the Moon also presents a tempting subject to photograph. Since the Moon appears quite small in the sky, you'll need a fairly powerful telephoto lens (400 mm or more) or even a small telescope to attach to your camera. A typical ISO 400 speed (either digital or film) is a good choice. For more information on equipment, film, recommended exposures and additional tips, see lunar eclipse photography.

Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch. Protective filters are not necessary and neither is a telescope. A lunar eclipse can be observed with nothing more than the naked eye. However, a pair of binoculars will magnify the view and make the red coloration brighter and easier to see. A standard pair of 7x35 or 7x50 binoculars is sufficient.

During the eclipse, the Moon will be in Leo. Saturn and bright star Regulus are only 3 degrees east and west, respectively, of the Moon. Geminii, Orion, Taurus and other winter constellations will occupy the south and western sky for North American eclipse watchers. viewers.

Although total eclipses of the Moon are of limited scientific value, they are remarkably beautiful events which do not require expensive equipment. They help to cultivate interest in science and astronomy in children and to provide a unique learning opportunity for families, students and teachers. To the nature lover and naturalist, the lunar eclipse can be appreciated and celebrated as an event which vividly illustrates our place among the planets in the solar system. The three dimensional reality of our universe comes alive in a graceful celestial ballet as the Moon swings through the Earth's shadow. Hope for clear skies, dress warmly and enjoy the show!

---

Eclipse Frequency and Future Eclipses

During the five millennium period from 2000 BC through AD 3000, there are 7,718 eclipses[1] of the Moon (including both partial and total eclipses). From 0 to 3 lunar eclipses (partial or total) occur each year. The last time three total lunar eclipses occurred in one calendar year was in 1982. On average, partial eclipses slightly outnumber total eclipses by 7 to 6[2].

[1] Only eclipses where the Moon passes through Earth's umbral shadow are included in these values. A minor type of eclipse is the penumbral eclipse which occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's faint penumbral shadow. Penumbral eclipses are rarely discernible to the naked eye and are of lesser importance than umbral eclipses.

[2] Penumbral eclipses are excluded from these statistics.

The last total lunar eclipse visible from the entire continental United States occurred on August 28, 2007. North Americans will have their next opportunity to see a total lunar eclipse on 2010 Dec 21.

The table below lists every lunar eclipse from 2007 through 2012. Click on the eclipse Date to see a map and diagram of an eclipse. Although penumbral lunar eclipses are included in this list, they are usually quite difficult to observe because of their subtlety. The penumbra is a partial shadow which still permits some direct sunlight to reach the Moon.

The Umbral Eclipse Magnitude is the fraction on the Moon's diameter immersed in the umbra at maximum eclipse. For values of 1.0 or greater, the eclipse is total. For negative values, the eclipse is penumbral. The Total Duration is the duration of the total phase (total eclipses only).

---

Lunar Eclipses: 2007 - 2012
Date	Eclipse Type	Saros	Umbral Magnitude	Eclipse Duration	Geographic Region of Eclipse Visibility
2007 Mar 03	Total	123	1.238	03h42m 01h14m	Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia
2007 Aug 28	Total	128	1.481	03h33m 01h31m	e Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas
2008 Feb 21	Total	133	1.111	03h26m 00h51m	c Pacific, Americas, Europe, Africa
2008 Aug 16	Partial	138	0.813	03h09m	S. America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus.
2009 Feb 09	Penumbral	143	-0.083	-	e Europe, Asia, Aus., Pacific, w N.A.
2009 Jul 07	Penumbral	110	-0.909	-	Aus., Pacific, Americas
2009 Aug 06	Penumbral	148	-0.661	-	Americas, Europe, Africa, w Asia
2009 Dec 31	Partial	115	0.082	01h02m	Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus.
2010 Jun 26	Partial	120	0.542	02h44m	e Asia, Aus., Pacific, w Americas
2010 Dec 21	Total	125	1.262	03h29m 01h13m	e Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas, Europe
2011 Jun 15	Total	130	1.705	03h40m 01h41m	S.America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus.
2011 Dec 10	Total	135	1.110	03h33m 00h52m	Europe, e Africa, Asia, Aus., Pacific, N.A.
2012 Jun 04	Partial	140	0.376	02h08m	Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas
2012 Nov 28	Penumbral	145	-0.184	-	Europe, e Africa, Asia, Aus., Pacific, N.A.

Geographic abreviations (used above): n = north, s = south, e = east, w = west, c = central

---

Web Resources

• More on February's eclipse: sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/OH/OH2008.html
  
• Lunar Eclipses from 1991 to 2000: sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEcat/LEdecade1991.html
  
• Lunar Eclipses from 2001 to 2010: sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEcat/LEdecade2001.html
  
• Lunar Eclipses from 2011 to 2020: sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEcat/LEdecade2011.html
  
• 5,000 Year Catalog of Lunar Eclipses: sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEcat/LEcatalog.html
  
• Lunar Eclipses of Historical Interest: sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEhistory/LEhistory.html
  
  
  
• Sky & Telescope - Lunar Eclipse
  
  
  
• How to Photograph a Lunar Eclipse
  
• Lunar Eclipse Photography
  
  
  
• IOTA Occultations - predictions of occultations of faint stars during the eclipse
  
• More Lunar Eclipse Photography

---

References

• Espenak, F., 1989, Fifty Year Canon of Lunar Eclipses: 1986-2035, Sky Publishing Corp., Cambridge, MA.
  
• Espenak, F., 2006, "Eclipses During 2007", Observer's Handbook - 2007, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Toronto, Ontario.

---

Reproduction of Eclipse Data

All eclipse calculations are by Fred Espenak, and he assumes full responsibility for their accuracy. Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by the following acknowledgment:

"Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA's GSFC"

For more information, see: NASA Copyright Information

Only need to get paper products and fish. I have lots of tuna, Spam, canned chicken, sardines, corned beef hash, etc.

Got our veggie seeds last week.

Stocking up on more canned veggies and fresh veggies, mostly potatoes, as soon as I can. Potaoes last quite a while in our cold room, which is an extra bedroom with no heat. Also want to get extra bread. Love homemake bread, but DH doesn't like it for sandwiches, so I have to get store-bought bread for that. I can still buy bread at my local produce store at 2 for $1.75 and it freezes very well. In spring, it used to cost 2 for $1.25, but that's still cheaper than other places.

I'm not doing this because of what's coming. I'm doing it because I've done it for years, but usually in the fall. This fall I could only buy a few things at a time because DH not working, so I figure another month, I'll be back to normal.

the west has it all. Hubby and I vacation every year for the entire month of May and drive cross country to see my family in Philly and have always enjoyed these spots. Just my preference; a mall is a mall, but there is some beautiful country here in the United States. Have fun!

I loved it and it was so easy.  But my sisters say they won't be seen in public with me if I do it.

Got full of myself when I lost the weight....I had gone from 210 to 158 and really got so full of myself for a period of time...started wearing dresses and heels and all that stuff *LOL*

professional people who strive to be as accurate as possible in what they do.  I just figured they'd want to know.  You never know when you're going to be called upon to type that next national security document that needs to reference a Navy SEAL and you'd want to be correct, wouldn't you?

Yes, now I'm being silly.  

 room and board and books paid to Stanford University. She had very good grades and we filled out the FAFSA. They gave a huge financial package to her becuase of our income, which is middle class, but so many people who go there have higher incomes that we qualified for quite a bit of aid. You should apply to whatever school you want to go to because you never know how much they will offer. She also has taken out the PLUS loan for the last 3 years, but the total will be less than half a year of tuition.She is a junior this year and we are so glad she didn't let financial worry keep her from applying to the university she dreamed about. Good luck.

back and forth free for all, you also don't know me personally to make assumptions about my personality. This has gotten old quickly, so I'll leave with these thoughts.

You expressed an opinion saying you were ill about her treatment which you thought was above and beyond.

I expressed an opinion, in turn, basically saying if you were in her situation you would want that same protection, considering it's very plausible that it's the obsessive fans and need to know that probably put her in this situation.

Opinions are opinions, facts are facts, and considering all the information any of us knows come from cutthroat reporters who are looking to make that big story, it would be rare if anyone knew any true story about a celeb.

I know if I were famous and hounded by people 24/7, and having a mental breakdown to boot, you can bet your bippy I'd do whatever in my power to make sure I had nobody around who could violate my privacy any more than it had already been violated.

As for the doctors getting suspended, if they weren't on her case, and it's not a teaching hospital, and if she has security, then it's for a reason, and they should have known better than to violate her privacy. Doctors can violate HIPAA just as easily as anyone else, and that's what they were doing, because it's also very possible that those same docs who just wanted a quick peek, probably couldn't keep it to themselves, or they wouldn't have been nosing in her business in the first place. They got less than they deserved.

Walk a mile in her shoes. Have sympathy and compassion in your heart for those who need it, which she obviously does!

If I eat wheat or oatmeal (I can't have rye or barley either, but it usually isn't something I am exposed to) I feel like I can't breathe for a couple of hours, my belly bloats up, I start tooting like a banchi and then I can't leave the house until all diarrhea leaves me.  It is TMI, but celiac stools are yellow to chalky gray, even white, NOT normal and are extremely foul as well. 

What this can do to you is make you anemic.  You can have malnutrition from never being able to absorb the good stuff in your food.  You might be either very thin or rather overweight, but you always feel horrible, no energy, tired.  Food never makes you feel better, no matter how hungry you are and how much/little you eat.

Celiac sprue is considered an autoimmune at this point.  The body can't digest the gluten (a type of protein) in wheat, barley or rye.  Oatmeal has gluten, but it is chemically different from the others mentioned here.  Some celiacs can eat it, some cannot; I cannot.  You can't eat any Quaker products because they are all severely cross contaminated and will make you sick.  What happens when you eat gluten all the time, is that the villi in the intestines flatten and/or fall off.  Their surfaces exchange nutrients from the gut into the body.  If they are not present or not functional, it dimishes absorption by 80%.  On the other hand, celiacs who go on a gut healing diet will have their villi return to a healthy state (about 90% of celiacs recover the lining of the gut).

If you have another AI, you have to know that celiac likes to piggyback with other AI disorders, particularly SLE and Sjorgen's.  Also, it is believed that 2/3 of celiacs are concurrently lactose intolerant and/or allergic to dairy.  It is estimated that in the US about 1:150 people is a celiac, whereas 1:4500 will be diagnosed during their lifetime. 

Never fear, however...gone are the days of rice cakes and hard rice bread!  There are many many books on making gluten free bread with bean and alternative grain flours.  There is plenty on the internet too.  The best book I can recommend is "The Allergy Survival Guide" by Melina, Stepaniak and Aronson.  It is everything free...no animal products, eggs, dairy, nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, yeast, soy...and the recipes are DIVINE. 

The best part is that since going on a GF diet last summer I rarely have a day when I am tired and feel crappy, as long as I behave.  I have lost about 40 lbs with no effort, unless you call eating fruit, veggies, soy and beans constantly in as large a quantity as I like, an effort. I have been able to add some GF desserts back into my diet and not gain weight.  I also have SLE and I am on 7.5 mg of prednisone every day (weaning to 5 mg).  Despite doing a 2-month loading dose of prednisone to get the SLE under control last summer, I dropped 18 lbs the first month on it and another 10 the next month and we all know what pred can do to your waistline.

I'll go and make my polenta crust pizza for supper and enjoy the fact that I won't feel sick after I eat and it will taste wonderful.