JUBAIL, 9 January — Residents in the Kingdom could be favored with an exceptional display of color from the moon today.
Between the hours of 22:50 and 23:52, the shadow of the earth will throw our nearest neighbor in space into total eclipse.
Residual light from the sun will be reflected back to observers on the earth giving the moon the appearance of a giant ripe peach. This strange glow has not been seen since the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines sent tons of smoke and ash high into the upper atmosphere. Hopefully that has cleared up and the weather will permit us to view this celestial treat.
Because the plane of the moon's orbit is titled five degrees in relation to the earth's it usually passes above or below the earth's shadow. This shadow, shaped like a cone, stretches far out into space and from time to time the moon is perfectly placed to be engulfed by its darkness.
Through an almost imaginative act of nature some of the rays of the sun pass through the earth's atmosphere that acts like a lens and bends them so that they shine into the length of the cone. As they are bent they are refracted and the earth's atmosphere filters out the band of blue light (that's why we have blue skies!) and only the red hues are reflected back from the moon's surface. This red light gives the total eclipse a pinkish-orange tinge and transforms the normally sterile-looking moon into a colorful glowing orb. For us to be able to enjoy this exceptional eclipse the weather must be clear, the winds and dust minimal.
El Popo's eruption in Mexico last month should have little or no effect on the earth's atmosphere and there should not be serious storm or cloud formation to block the passage of the sun's rays through the atmosphere.
The complete timetable is as follows:
Partial eclipse begins 21:42 -- the moon enters the shadow.
Totality begins 22:50
Mid-eclipse at 23:20
Totality ends 23:52
Partial eclipse ends 24:59 -- the moon exits the shadow.
You can enjoy this phenomenon without any equipment at all but a pair of binoculars (at least 50x7 without zoom) will enhance the experience. Get out of town where city lights won't interfere with your viewing. Dress warmly and take along a flask of hot tea or coffee or both. Enjoy!
