ECLIPSE OF MOON TO-NICHT

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 177, 3 May 1939, Page 2

ECLIPSE OF MOON TO-NICHT

TOTAL IN DO-MINION A total lunar eclipse will be visible throughout the Dominion to-night, and as the phenomenon will occur with the moon high in the heavens it should be widely observed. The penumbra! eclipse, which is the first stage of the phenomenon, is not easily detected by the unaided eye, consisting of a mixture of direct sunlight with shadow, which has very little darkening effect upon the 'mebn. This stagei will commence at 11.53 p.m. on Wednesday. •The first contact of tlie real shadow with 'the moon’s disc " ill be visible' at ' 12.57 to-morrow morning. Tfierfiafter the amount of obscuration will! steadily grow until , at 1.9 a mi.., the total stage will commence. If the earth’s shadow happens to be particularly dark the moon may then disappear completely, but if the shadow is reddish the eclipsed moon will appear like a huge copper ball in the skv.

The total phase of the eclipse will continue for over an hour, ending, at 2.12 a.m. The reverse process will then begin, the earth’s shadow steadily moving off and exposing an everincreasing portion of the illuminated disc to view. Last- umbra 1 contact will occur ;it 4.25 a.m., but the penumbra 1 phase will continue longer, net ending until 5.29 a.m.