Upcoming Lunar Show

There's a website I just love.  It's called 'Earth and Sky', and it sends me a newsletter everyday.  Yes, everyday seems like overkill, and I normally wouldn't put up with that.  I mean who has time (yes, even when you're retired) to read something which pops up in your mail box each day.  However, unlike gossip sites, or sell you something sites, this is all about geology and astronomy, hence, Earth and Sky.  (I've always wanted to use 'hence' in a sentence, so cross THAT off my bucket list.)

Anywho, E & S has about five stories everyday.  It also has fabulous pictures from all over the world as well as from space.  Another feature is a picture of the night sky with constellations, planets, comets and other see-able stuff plotted, so if inclined, you could actually FIND them.  Typical stories could be about something going on in the ocean, or following NASA satellites,  the happenings in outer space, or perhaps covering a large earthquake and the possible resulting tsunami.

It's always exciting when a lunar eclipse appears in the website.  This has been the year of lunar eclipses.  There's another one coming up on Sunday evening the 27th.  It's a full eclipse of the 'Harvest Moon', or Blood Moon which is the full moon closest to an equinox.  (That last sentence should convince you that I've really been reading this stuff, and it's sticking to me like bullhead burrs.) This full eclipse of a reddish tinged, seemingly over sized moon,  is going to be visible to all of North America.  Keep your fingers crossed for a cloudless evening because there's going to be a lunar event to which you're all invited.  The beauty of this one is it's going to start about 7pm MDT and finish up about 9pm.  You don't need any funny glasses or pinpricks in a sheet of cardboard to enjoy watching.  READER ALERT:  Figure out what time YOU can see the eclipse based on your time zone. This eclipse is so great because it's going to be in prime time.  We actually had to get up in the middle of the night in April to see the last one.  Standing outdoors in the middle of the night where coyotes regularly roam was a bit of a nervous experience not to mention the old people with weapons who could have mistaken us for prowlers.  

So, snap open the lawn chairs and pop the popcorn 'cause the universe is going to be putting on a Sunday night show. Just to whet your appetite, here's a pix of the moon I took from our balcony in Colorado.  Looks like we could have a front row seat for the upcoming elliptical event.