Meteor Shower and Total Lunar Eclipse to Wow Skywatchers This Month

**Justin Case** · 12-09-2010, 09:02 AM

Skywatchers, grab your blankets. December's night sky spectacular will feature the best meteor shower of 2010 as well as the only total lunar eclipse of the year – sights should outshine any New Year's Eve fireworks display in terms of sheer wonder.

The massive Geminid meteor shower returns every year, so you'll have more chances if the cold proves too daunting on the night of Dec. 13. But anyone in North America who skips the total lunar eclipse on the night of Dec. 20 will be missing what promises to be the best lunar eclipse show until April 2014.

Read more @ http://www.space.com/spacewatch/dece...ps-101208.html

**Rick** · 12-09-2010, 10:04 AM

Cool. Thanks, Justin. I've noted both on the calendar.

**Justin Case** · 12-09-2010, 10:05 AM

I'm hoping for clear skies

**charibelle18** · 12-09-2010, 04:23 PM

Thanks for the heads up.

It should be great.

**your_comforting_company** · 12-09-2010, 05:43 PM

Marked both and told the kids. Thanks for the tip. I love meteor showers and the kids will get a kick out of watching the eclipse with the telescope!

**Rick** · 12-09-2010, 05:51 PM

I wonder how many civilizations would have concluded the world was ending while we mark it on the calendar so we can enjoy the show.

**your_comforting_company** · 12-09-2010, 06:04 PM

surprisingly, many of the ancient civilizations would have known it was coming too. Many old ways of keeping time and years were based on solunar calculations. The roman calendar that we use today is actually defunct in it's "every fourth year is odd". KYRS can probably confirm that this is largely why Native Americans referred to time passed as "many moons". (History is not one of my strong points!)

I'd bet most of them knew it was coming, and it's probably marked on the mayan doomsday calendar.

**Justin Case** · 12-09-2010, 06:10 PM

I thought "many Moons" was in reference to full moons ? (not my strong point either YCC

)

**Rick** · 12-09-2010, 06:12 PM

I thought it referred to women.

**your_comforting_company** · 12-09-2010, 07:02 PM

Many of the polynesian peoples knew the stars intimately and used them for navigation between islands. It was known as "wayfinding" and the person on board who knew the star maps were highly regarded among the people. Many of them still are today.

**Justin Case** · 12-09-2010, 07:20 PM

Ya know I googled "Many Moons Origins" trying to find out exactly what was meant by that term,, Came up empty ? we all know Indians say that, (at least in the movies) , Now its bugging me ! Dang it !

**Stargazer** · 12-09-2010, 10:15 PM

The Geminids can be spectactular. I always get excited then the clouds roll in.Im keeping my fingers crossed for a good show this year.

**Scaru** · 12-17-2010, 08:06 AM

bump just reminding you 20th

**Justin Case** · 12-20-2010, 09:58 AM

another bump,, Lunar eclipse tonight, I hope someone takes pics as California is getting hammered by a huge storm, I doubt we will be able to see it,,

**your_comforting_company** · 12-20-2010, 10:14 PM

Please, Crash!

Anybody know what time is peak viewing for the east side?

**crashdive123** · 12-20-2010, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by your_comforting_company

Please, Crash!

Anybody know what time is peak viewing for the east side?

Starts 1:32 Eastern - full eclise 2:42 - then it uncovers until 3:53.

**Pocomoonskyeyes3** · 12-20-2010, 11:53 PM

The eclipse begins on Tuesday morning, Dec. 21st, at 1:33 am EST (Monday, Dec. 20th, at 10:33 pm PST). At that time, Earth's shadow will appear as a dark-red bite at the edge of the lunar disk. It takes about an hour for the "bite" to expand and swallow the entire Moon. Totality commences at 02:41 am EST (11:41 pm PST) and lasts for 72 minutes.

Taken from.....

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news...lsticeeclipse/