ECLIPSE OF THE MOON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20114, 27 November 1928, Page 10

ECLIPSE OF THE MOON.

TO-NIGHT'S PHENOMENON.

STAGES VISIBLE IN AUCKLAND.

TOTALITY ABOUT NINE O'CLOCK

A total eclipse of tho moon will occur this evening at a timo favourable for general observation. Given clear weather, tho eclipse will bo visible throughout New Zealand in all its stages, and should, therefore, prove an interesting and instructive spectacle. Penumbral eclipse will commence at 6.25, before moonrise. As tho penumbral shadow i:3 very slight, consisting of a blending of shadow and sunlight, it will result in a very slight dimming of tho moon's customary brilliancy, being hardly perceptible to tho eye. At 7.24, 14 minutes after the moon has risen at Auckland, the eclipse will reach a more interesting stage for the general public, for at that time tho earth s shadow will make its first contact with tho lunar disc, appearing first on the lower, right-hand side of the moon as viewed in tho sky. Tho shadow will move rapidly across the face of the moon, leaving an ever-narrowing crescent unobscured. By 8.53 p.m. total eclipse, tlio most interesting phase, will commence. The appearance of tho moon during the total phs.se of tho eclipse is a matter for conjecture. On some rare occasions the shadow of tho earth has been so dark that tho moon ha 3 entirely disappeared from view. Recent eclipses visible in New Zealand havo been rather however, and if the coming eclipse is anything like its predecessors a very beautiful sight mav bo witnessed in tho blending of various colours, blue, green and red, on tho lunar di^c. Totality will continue for 56 minutes, tho eastern limb of tho moon not emerging from tlio shadow until 9.29. lhe moon will theu rapidly leave the shadow, which will pass off its disc at 10.39. The final and least interesting stago of penumbral eclipse will continuo until 11.33. Any colour, red or grey, visible in the shadow projected on tho moon would bo due to the earth's atmosphero refracting tho red rays from the sun into the shadow cone. If the atmosphere on tho sunrise and sunset circle of tho earth at that timo is cloudy, tho clouds would prevent any such refraction, and the eclipse would be a dark one.