Anyone watching the eclipse tonight?

[WolfeMacleod]

Total lunar eclipse. Coinciding with Winter solstice. The first in 456 years.
As an added bonus, it's at 66.6 degrees in the sky.


should atrt just after midnight on the east coast. 9pm west...



OTTAWA — This year's winter solstice — an event that will occur next Tuesday — will coincide with a full lunar eclipse in a union that hasn't been seen in 456 years.

The celestial eccentricity holds special significance for spiritualities that tap into the energy of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year and a time that is associated with the rebirth of the sun.

"It's a ritual of transformation from darkness into light," says Nicole Cooper, a high priestess at Toronto's Wiccan Church of Canada. "It's the idea that when things seem really bleak, (it) is often our biggest opportunity for personal transformation.

"The idea that the sun and the moon are almost at their darkest at this point in time really only further goes to hammer that home."

Cooper said Wiccans also see great significance in the unique coupling of the masculine energy of the sun and the feminine energy of the moon — transformative energies that she plans to incorporate into the church's winter-solstice rituals.

Since the last time an eclipse and the winter solstice happened simultaneously was just under five centuries years ago, Cooper said she wasn't familiar with any superstitions or mythologies associated with it.

Instead, she said, they can only be interpreted personally.

"Wiccans don't think of things as being good or evil — they just are. Our experience of them makes them positive or negative for us."

The winter solstice also played an important role in Greco-Roman rituals.

"It's seen as a time of rebirth or renewal because, astrologically, it's a time where the light comes back," said Shane Hawkins, a professor of Greek and Roman studies at Carleton University in Ottawa.

For the ancient Romans, it was also a time of great feasting and debauchery.

"If (the eclipse) happened on the 21st, they might well have been drunk," he said.

A lunar eclipse taking place during the solstice is not an event Hawkins has seen in research, but he said it would have been viewed as something special.

"Eclipses could be taken either way," he said. "Certainly it would have been an omen, but it would have been up to the interpretation of specialists of whether it was good or bad."

And that interpretation would likely be based on whatever was happening at the time.

The last time the two celestial events happened at the same time was in AD 1554, according to NASA.

An otherwise seemingly unexceptionable year in recorded history, the darkened moon happened during a bleak year for Tudor England.

Lady Jane Grey was beheaded for treason that year, while Princess Elizabeth was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Mary of Guise — the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots — became regent of Scotland.

Scientifically, however, it's just a coincidence of natural cycles.

"It's quite rare, but there's no profound significance. It's luck of the draw; you got dealt four aces," said Robert Dick, an astronomy instructor at Carleton.

The eclipse will start just after midnight Eastern Time on Tuesday, with the main event starting at 1:30 a.m. ET and lasting until 5:30 a.m., when the moon reappears.


Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Solstice+eclipse+overlap+first+years/3983582/story.html#ixzz18hSgCJ72

[herr_oberst]

Tuesday night, not tonight, and yes, if the sky allows it to.

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Tuesday night, not tonight, and yes, if the sky allows it to.

Radio said tonight. If it starts at midnight on the EC, that might be considered tuesday...

[slodave]

Nope. No sky visible.

[WolfeMacleod]

Lunar Eclipse Tonight: 2010 Winter Solstice To Coincide With Total Full Moon Eclipse On December 20, 21 (PHOTOS)


Multiple astronomical events are lining up for a rare display of synchronization tonight as a total lunar eclipse overlaps with 2010's winter solstice.

Depending on the location, late night December 20 or early morning December 21, the full moon will be darkened by Earth's shadow as our planet passes between it and the sun. December 21 is also the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, after which the days will begin to grow longer. Coupled with the lunar spectacle, it means we're in for an especially dark eve.

According to The AP, North and Central America should both be able to view the entire eclipse, which is estimated to take about 3.5 hours. Total eclipse will begin at 11:41 p.m. PST on Monday, or 2:41 a.m. EST on Tuesday -- so obviously West Coasters will have a better chance to catch the magnificent sight without dragging around heavy eyelids and needing an extra dose of espresso the following morning. If you want to set an alarm to catch a brief glimpse of the amber moon, NASA recommends 3:17 a.m. EST for the optimal impression.......

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by WolfeMacleod

Radio said tonight. If it starts at midnight on the EC, that might be considered tuesday...

My bad.

My bad, a Duh moment.

[Joe Bob]

Snow is in the forecast....

[widgeon13]

Actually starts at 2:41 AM Tuesday morning where I am and while I was out at 7 PM or so with the dog we have cloud cover so I will have to check later. love to see it.

[flatbutt]

the last one wasn't particularly impressive. the moon turns a shade of red but doesn't disappear into the earth's shadow.

[BeyGon]

It will start a little after 10 pm tonight here but it's been raining for days and will be all night, probably won't get to see it. Definitely won't live long enough to see the next one.

[deanp]

Mostly cloudy here as well, but hoping to get some partial clearing later tonight.

[enzo1]

Oklahoma times, its a perfect night: The eclipse will be visible on Monday night/Tuesday morning (20th/21st)
The times for Oklahoma are as follows:
Penumbral Eclipse Begins: 11:29 pm CST
Partial Eclipse Begins: 12:33 am CST
Total Eclipse Begins: 1:41 am CST
Greatest Eclipse: 2:17 am CST
Total Eclipse Ends: 2:53 am CST
Partial Eclipse Ends: 4:01 am CST
Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 5:05 am CST
The first thing you are likely to see is some shading on the left side of the Moon after about midnight.

[slakjaw]

cloudy

[trekkor]

First time in over 450 years?

No biggie, I'll catch the next one.


KT

[red-beard]

Clouded over...

[enzo1]

Originally Posted by turbocarrera

Ima head to the bar and find me a Witch!

shouldn't be too hard to dothanks for the info

[imcarthur]

It's looking pretty cloudy to be staying up for an eclipse.

Ian

[tevake]

We were hoping to check it out. But very cloudy here now. My son Alex (13yo), is interested in both the astrological and astronomical aspects of the event.
It may clear yet.

[Scuba Steve]

WAY too cloudy around Everett for that. :\

[onlycafe]

maybe it will be on tv.
better than no eclipse at all.