Total Lunar Eclipse: Wednesday, Feb. 20 (updated 1/28)
See a Total Lunar Eclipse along with the rings of Saturn
Special Presentation by Dr. Tom Fleming at 6 p.m.
A superbly timed, and the most convenient total lunar eclipse until September 2015 will occur just after sunset for North America (and much of the western hemisphere) on Wednesday, February 20. This is the last total eclipse of the Moon until the year 2010, and all other lunar eclipses until 2015 occur in the pre-dawn hours after midnight. For this eclipse the Moon is conveniently placed in the eastern sky in the constellation Leo, the Lion for easy evening viewing. In addition this eclipse includes a rare bonus: The planet Saturn (just days from its closest to Earth for the year) is just a few degrees from the Moon along with Regulus, Leo’s brightest star. All three objects will fit within a binocular field of view. Also gracing the sky overhead will be the planet Mars, two months removed from its closest to Earth for eight more years.
 The full Moon in partial eclipse (progressing toward total eclipse) on Feb. 20, at 7:15 p.m. as seen from southern Arizona. |
The full moon will pass into the dark, inner (umbral) shadow of the Earth and will be visible in partial eclipse rising over the eastern horizon at around 6:48 p.m. from the Desert Southwest, although novice sky gazers might not notice a distinct darkening around the Moon’s lower left edge until a few minutes after this time. The total portion of the eclipse will start at around 8:03 p.m. and will last almost 50 minutes until 8:51 p.m. local time (Mountain Standard Time – MST) for southern Arizona. This will be the last total lunar eclipse until the night of December 20/21, 2010 and the last such eclipse conveniently visible in the evening until September 27, 2015. As all other eclipses from now until 2015 are in the late night hours after midnight, this eclipse is not to be missed!
The public is invited to join Flandrau and the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) for a special talk on the eclipse along with free public viewing of the eclipsed Moon, Saturn, Mars and other celestial objects at Flandrau on the University of Arizona mall that evening. Viewing is free however donations are encouraged. The special presentation on the eclipse (and about eclipses in general) is by UA Steward Observatory astronomer Dr. Tom Fleming. Dr. Thomas A. Fleming is an Associate Astronomer and Senior Lecturer at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ. He coordinates the general education program in astronomy and public outreach for Steward Observatory. Tom received the UA Provost’s General Education Teaching Award in 2000 and authored a 28-chapter set of PowerPoint lecture slides for Addison-Wesley’s Cosmic Lecture Launcher CD-ROM in 2003. In 2005, he was also featured in the PBS documentary “Declining by Degrees: Higher Education at Risk” and the Naked Science episode “The Birth of the Earth” on the National Geographic Channel. Tom’s presentation on Wednesday night, Feb. 20 will start at 6:00 p.m., last about 45 minutes and costs $5.00 per person for adults and children 4 and older.
Eclipse times for the Eastern (EST), Mountain (MST) and Pacific time zones (PST) are as follows:
Add 1 hour to MST for central time zone
- Partial eclipse begins: 8:43 p.m. (EST), 6:43 p.m. (MST), 5:43 p.m. (PST)
- Total eclipse begins: 10:03 p.m. (EST), 8:03 p.m. (MST), 7:03 p.m. (PST)
- Deepest eclipse: 10:27 p.m. (EST), 8:27 p.m. (MST), 7:27 p.m. (PST)
- Partial eclipse ends: 10:51 p.m. (EST), 8:51 p.m. (MST), 7:51 p.m. (PST)
Flandrau: The University of Arizona Science Center is located on the University of Arizona campus on the northeast corner of Cherry Avenue and University Boulevard. Free parking is available on the University of Arizona campus in metered spaces and many parking lots after 5 p.m. The following link will give a link for visitor parking for Flandrau: <http://www.gotuasciencecenter.org/visit>. A campus-wide parking map is at <http://www.parking.arizona.edu/pdf/maps/visitor.pdf>. Flandrau Science Center is located on The University of Arizona campus on the northeast corner of Cherry Avenue and University Boulevard. Information about the eclipse, the night sky, and planetarium shows is also available by calling 621-STAR (7827).
Event Title and Organization Name
Total Lunar Eclipse with Saturn
FLANDRAU: THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER
1601 E. University Blvd
The University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona 85721
Brief event description
Join Flandrau Science Center and the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association for free viewing through powerful telescopes of the totally eclipsed Moon and the planet Saturn! Donations on site will benefit the Flandrau: The University of Arizona Science Center.
Location of Event
In Flandrau’s Star Theater (on the corner of University Boulevard and Cherry Avenue) and on the UA mall at Flandrau; Free public viewing of the eclipsed Moon, Saturn, and other celestial objects at Flandrau on the University of Arizona mall.
Cost of Event
Parking and telescope viewing are FREE. Presentation is $5.00 per person for adults, seniors/students and for children 4 and over.
Hours of Event
Presentation: 6:00 p.m.-6:45 p.m.
Telescope viewing: 6:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Start/End Dates
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Information Phone/Web
(520) 621-STAR or 621-4310 (Astronomy News Line)
http://www.gotUAsciencecenter.org
PARKING INFORMATION: Parking on local side streets, most surface lots, and in the Cherry Ave. Garage is FREE to the public after 5 p.m. on The University of Arizona campus. The following link will give a link for visitor parking for Flandrau: <http://www.gotuasciencecenter.org/visit>. A campus-wide parking map is at <http://www.parking.arizona.edu/pdf/maps/visitor.pdf>. Flandrau: The University of Arizona Science Center is located on The University of Arizona campus on the northeast corner of Cherry Avenue and University Boulevard.