Total Lunar Eclipse on Wednesday February 20, 2008

Join a team from the Longmont Astronomical Society in viewing the lunar eclipse from 7 to 9 PM at the Sandstone Ranch, 2525 E Highway 119 in Longmont or at Community Park, 955 Bella Vista Drive in Louisville. Telescopes will be available for viewing the eclipse as well as the planet Saturn, the Orion nebula, and other objects as well.

 On February 20th, the Earth's shadow will totally engulf the Moon from 8 PM to 8:52 PM MST. The Moon will appear quite reddish as its surface will be dimly lit only by a thin ring of light passing through the outer portion of the Earth's atmosphere. Circumstances for the eclipse will be ideal if the sky is clear. The Moon will be high up in the sky and the entire eclipse will be visible from start to finish. The eclipse begins when the pale outer fringe of the Earth's shadow touches the Moon's edge at 6:05 PM. The shading will be subtle and won't be very noticeable until the Moon reaches the Earth's inner shadow at 6:43 PM. From about 7:30 to 8 PM is perhaps when the lunar eclipse will be the most impressive. The curved dark edge of Earth's shadow will be seen creeping minute by minute across the lunar landscape. After totality ends at 8:52 PM, events unwind in reverse order; the Moon's edge reappears in sunlight and gradually returns to full at 11:17 PM.

Head east from Longmont on Highway 119. Take the second road past county line road red light on  highway 119, second entrance to the park.  Turn by the car dealership and then take the road to south then up hill to parking lot on top of mesa overlooking the valley.