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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.  
Oreo-complete_plate.jpg (23364 bytes)  Make and share a plateful of tasty reminders of the changing lunar shape with Oreo Moon Phases.
Satellite_bowl_upR.jpg (12587 bytes) Make a Satellite Tracking Bowl to predict satellite passes the night of the eclipse.
Clay lunar landscapes.jpg (411986 bytes) Create models of the Lunar Surface using clay.  
Moon_Finder_2R.jpg (12281 bytes) 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. 

 

 

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