Utahns missed out on the August total eclipse of the Sun and clouds covered February's total eclipse of the Moon but, if circumstances align, folks in the Uintah Basin will have the chance to view a near-total eclipse of the Moon this Thursday night. According to Utah’s NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Patrick Wiggins, "The eclipse will start Thursday evening just after 8:30 when the Moon enters Earth’s dark, umbral shadow.” Wiggins says the Moon will be very low in the eastern sky at that time when mountains may block the view but by the time of maximum eclipse at just after 10:00pm on August 27th, the Moon should be high enough in the sky for all Utahns to get a good view. This isn’t a total eclipse so a small sliver of the Moon will miss Earth's dark shadow. Those observing away from light polluted areas have a good chance of seeing some of the lunar colors typically associated with total eclipses of the Moon. The Moon will leave the dark portion of Earth's shadow just before midnight but some very light shading may be visible for another hour, notes Wiggins, as the Moon makes its way through Earth's faint penumbral shadow. Also, unlike needing special viewing equipment to enjoy an eclipse of the Sun, eclipses of the Moon are safe to observe with no special equipment and require nothing more than clear skies and a desire to look. Enjoy!
Photo Cred: science.nasa.gov/eclipses/