The first of two lunar eclipses that will be visible in the D.C. area this year will take place this Saturday evening around sundown:
At sunset Saturday, look to the east and catch a colorful moonrise. You will be watching a total lunar eclipse in progress — the kind of eclipse that is safe to view.
It will be the first of two total lunar eclipses this year, said Fred Espenak of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt. Parts of the eclipse will be visible from every continent, making it a unique event, he said.
The weather is expected to cooperate, with the Washington area forecast calling for scattered clouds early Saturday evening.
The moon will be full (lunar eclipses always occur with full moons). For Washington, the official moonrise will be 5:58 p.m., according to the Naval Observatory. The total phase, or totality, of the eclipse will have already started by 5:44 p.m. The middle part of totality will be about 6:20 p.m. and will end at 6:57 p.m.
Definitely worth catching if you’re able.
March 3rd, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Well, personally, I am sure this is an omen of doom…depending of course on how red the moon turns.