Preparing for the Eclipse

The biggest star in tonight's sky...will actually be the moon! In a few hours, astronomers and ...  More »

The biggest star in tonight's sky...will actually be the moon! In a few hours, astronomers and enthusiasts may be craning to see the moon play hide and seek in the earth's shadow. Minot State University Astro-Physicist Dr. Draza Markovic says while there's not a lot more to be learned from these total lunar eclipses, they are fun to see. And you don't need a lot of fancy equipment to do so.... (Draza Markovic, Minot State University) A lunar eclipse is very easy to observe. Just go out, and it's better if you don't use a telescope actually because with a telescope, you usually cover a tiny patch of sky, So if you look at the moon through a telescope, you're seeing a small part of its surface. With the naked eye or with a binocular, you'll be able to see much better. You'll be able to see the entire thing. NASA says the eclipse will begin at 7:43 p.m. with the total eclipse happening from 9:01 to 9:51. The entire eclipse finishes up at 11:09. Tonight's event will be the last total lunar eclipse until December 20th, 2010. Last year there were two. Later this year, in August, there will be a total solar eclipse and a partial lunar eclipse.  « Less