May 15, 2003
Total lunar eclipse tonight.
There will be a very nice eclipse tonight. It should be visible from throughout the US. Here's a
page from Nasa full of information, including links to various web cams showing it, background info, plus charts of the eclipses from now to 2007.
The last total lunar eclipse visible from all of the United States occurred on Jan. 20, 2000. The last total lunar eclipse occurred on Jan. 09, 2001 and was visible from Europe, Africa and Asia. North Americans won't have another opportunity to see a total lunar eclipse until Nov. 8-9, 2003.
... Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch. You don't need any kind of protective filters. It isn't even necessary to use a telescope. You can watch the lunar eclipse with nothing more than your own two eyes. If you have a pair of binoculars, they will help magnify the view and will make the red coloration brighter and easier to see. A standard pair of 7x35 or 7x50 binoculars work fine.
Even if you read this after the date there should be pictures available. Also see
space.com, always an interesting stop. And if you don't like lunar eclipses, there will be a solar eclipse on May 31. Not visible from the US, unfortunately. Visit the
2003 Annular Solar Eclipse Page for more info.
