Paper Plate Education
"Serving the Universe on a Paper Plate"

Total Lunar Eclipses

August 28, 2007 February 20-21, 2008

Before or after the eclipse, try some lunar activities (below) with your friends, family, or classmates.

http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/OH/image1/LE2007Aug28-Fig3.GIF

August 28, 2007

(EDT=Eastern Daylight Time)

(Penumbral* Eclipse Begins: 03:53 EDT)
Partial Eclipse Begins: 04:51 EDT
Total Eclipse Begins: 05:52 EDT
Greatest Eclipse: 06:37 EDT
Total Eclipse Ends: 07:22 EDT
Partial Eclipse Ends: 08:23 EDT
(Penumbral* Eclipse Ends: 08:21 UT)

*The penumbral eclipse portion is difficult to discern, as the shadow is very subtle.

For observers in the eastern U.S. and in the Great Lakes region, the moon sets during the total eclipse, so you won't see the second half of the eclipse. Meanwhile, the approaching sun is brightening the morning sky.

For example, from South Bend, Indiana (in EDT):
   Astronomical Twilight: 5:25 a.m.
   Nautical Twilight: 6:02 a.m.
   Civil Twilight: 6:37 a.m.
   Sunrise: 7:06 a.m.
   Moonset (fully eclipsed): 7:11 a.m.

Illustrations are excerpted from and enlarged at http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/OH/image1/LE2007Aug28-Fig3.GIF
courtesy of Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC.

Feb 20-21, 2008

(EST=Eastern Standard Time)

(Penumbral* Eclipse Begins:   19:36 EST)
Partial Eclipse Begins:     20:43 EST
Total Eclipse Begins:       22:01 EST
Greatest Eclipse:           22:26 EST
Total Eclipse Ends:         22:50 EST
Partial Eclipse Ends:       00:08EST
(Penumbral Eclipse Ends:     01:15 EST)

*The penumbral eclipse portion is difficult to discern, as the shadow is very subtle.

Illustrations are excerpted from and enlarged at http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/OH/OHfigures/OH2008-Fig02.pdf courtesy of Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC.

Try these moon-related activities at home or in school.

	The Lunar Eclipse activity differentiates between the fainter outer shadow (penumbra) and the darker inner shadow (umbra). The human eye can usually only discern the darker umbra.
	Make and share a plateful of tasty reminders of the changing lunar shape with Oreo Moon Phases.
	Make a Satellite Tracking Bowl to predict satellite passes the night of the eclipse.
	Create models of the Lunar Surface using clay.
	Make a Moon Finder to track the moon for any date or time, given any phase.
	Read Goodnight Moon, then discover at Bad Moons Rising why hidden nuggets within Clement Hurd's illustrations make it such a great book.

For additional information through Penn- Harris- Madison Schools, visit the PHM Planetarium & Air/Space Museum in Mishawaka, IN.
For eclipse details see Fred Espenak's site at http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/eclipse.html.
For lunar eclipses in general, see http://www.space.com/fullmoonfever/.
Kids, wear reflectors and bright clothing when you are outside at night so drivers can see you.
For Girl Scout Brownies in the audience, see also the Try-It on page 97 entitled "What's an Eclipse?"

The contents of this site may be reproduced for non-profit educational purposes only. Please cite the contributing author in credits.
All other uses require the express written permission of the respective contributors.