ECLIPSE OF THE MOON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20115, 28 November 1928, Page 12

ECLIPSE OF THE MOON.

AN IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLE.

FINE VIEW IN AUCKLAND.

COPPER COLOUR AT TOTALITY.

Clouds somewhat spoiled the visibility of the total eclipse of the moon, which occurred last evening. Conditions earlier in the day had not been too promising, but with the setting of tlie sun the clouds cleared, and pormitted Aucklanders to view in a practically clear sky some stages of this comparatively rare phenomenon. Owing to the moon being situated in the northern portion of its orbit, it rose fairly late in Auckland, and only those who had a clear view of the eastern sky were able to observe the first contact of the earth's shadow .with the lunar disc, which occurred at 7.30 p.m. Howover, as tho eclipso progressed the moon rose higher in the sky and permitted some splendid views from most parts of tho city of the progress of tho eclipse. By 8.30 p.m. tho moon was almost totally hidden by tho earth's shadow and presented a very beautiful sight. The diminishing crescent of light on tho moon appeared pearly white, while the gradually encroaching shadow, a beautifully tinted greenish grey at the edge, merged rapidly into a coppery red colour at tho centre. So light in colour was tho outer portion of the shadow that even at nine o'clock ono would believe that the eclipse was not yet total, although totality had actually commenced almost half an hour earlier.

An eclipse of the moon is caused by the moon passing through tho long shadow cast by tho earth in space. At the moon's distance this shadow cone l» nearly threo times as large as tho moon's apparent disc. In last evening's eclipse the moon passed to the north of the centre of tho shadow, so that throughout tho total pliaso tho lighter grey of the edge of tho shadow was visible on the lunar disc.

Cloudiness increased after tho total phaso had ended at 9.29 p.m., and spoiled tho later stages. By 10 p.m. the moon had half emerged from the shadow. Tho later stages of tho eclipse, being merely a repetition of tho earlier stages, but in tho rcvcrso order, aroused very little attention, although many in the aftertheatre crowd in Queen Street looked skyward as they walked. Tho shadow /inally left tho moon at 10.39 p.m., and tho penumbral eclipso ended at 11.38 p.m.