Hopefully the weather cooperated and you were able to see the total lunar eclipse last night.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the shadow cast by the sunlit Earth. When the Moon enters the outer penumbra, where just part of the Sun's light is blocked, it becomes only slightly dimmer. Only when it passes into the shadow, the umbra, does it look markedly darker.
It's called "total" lunar eclipse, because the moon is full (in this case, Full Snow Moon).
Because of the stinkin' clouds, many hometowns in southwest Virginia didn't get to see the lunar eclipse. For those that did, the moon was to high in the night sky, that photos weren't very flattering.
Maybe next time. The next total lunar eclipse is scheduled for 2010. Boy, that seems like an eternity from now. ---Brent
Image by Gregg Dinderman, Sky & Telescope)
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