Forecast for cloudy skies could prevent viewing
This is not original reporting. All information has been compiled from The Washington Post's article "Lunar Eclipse Expected Tonight" by Mark Stencel.
The forecast for cloudy skies may obscure the Washington area's viewing of tonight's lunar eclipse.
Tonight's forecast means that sky watchers will have a hit or miss chance of seeing the eclipse, and Calvin Meadows, a meteorological technician with the National Weather Service, predicts the chance is "more of a miss than a hit," according to The Washington Post. Meadows also said the cloudy skies were expected to decrease into the night.
Despite tonight's weather forecast, many are optimistic about the turnout of the eclipse. "It looks like it will probably break up a little tonight," Elizabeth Warner, director of the University of Maryland's Observatory, said to The Washington Post.
During a lunar eclipse, the moon crosses through the shadow of the Earth, which blocks the sunlight that gives the moon its shine. "The period of totality- when the moon will be completely within the Earth's shadow- will begin at 10:23 p.m. Eastern time and end at 11:45 p.m.," said The Washington Post.
The eclipse will be visible around most of the world. The lunar eclipse should be visible in European skies early Thursday morning and seen in the western United States around sunset tonight.
The University of Maryland College Park's astronomy department plans to host an eclipse viewing tonight, according to The Post. The viewing will begin at 9:00 p.m. near the sundial on the McKeldin Mall. According to The Washington Post, Warner said that hundreds of people showed up for a similar event last November, when the last lunar eclipse was visible from in DC area.
The Montgomery College planetarium on Fenton Street in Takoma Park is holding a program on lunar and solar eclipses beginning at 7:00 p.m., followed by a public viewing, according to The Post.
According to The Post, Russ Poch, a professor of physical sciences at Howard Community College, said that the next lunar eclipse will be on Mar. 3, 2007.
Shannon Egan. Shannon Egan is excited to be a second semester senior. Her hobbies include napping, cleaning her room, making friendship bracelets and listening to the Spice Girls. Shannon's favorite television shows are Alias, The O.C., American Dreams and Desperate Housewives. She enjoys ponies, puppies and everything … More »
No comments.
Please ensure that all comments are mature and responsible; they will go through moderation.