On March 3 a total lunar eclipse will be seen in Israel. This is a spectacular natural phenomenon that can be seen from anywhere in the country. The eclipse will be visible from the continent of Africa, Europe and the western part of Asia. All phases of the eclipse will be seen in Israel. It is a full shadow of the moon and the moon passes through the northern part of the partial shadow cone cast by the earth. The eclipse will be broadcast live from the observatory in Givatayim on the website www.astronomy.org.il There will also be organized observations throughout the country
A lunar eclipse is caused, as mentioned, when the moon enters the shadow area cast by the earth. The moon, being a dark world, receives its light from the sun and we actually see the sunlight reflected from the face of the moon. When the moon enters the shadow area cast by the earth, it is deprived of the light of the sun and is damaged. Hence, a lunar eclipse will only occur when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, that is, when the Moon is full or very close to it. While the moon is inside the earth's shadow, some of the sun's rays manage to penetrate through the atmosphere and break into the shadow. Since only the red rays have a chance to pass through the atmosphere and enter the shadow cone, they will color the affected moon a reddish color, which will deepen as we approach the southern (lower) edge of the moon (toward the center of the shadow cone). This deficiency is profound; In other words, the moon is deep inside the shadow cone, so the amount of light rays that will reach the southern edge of the moon during the peak of the eclipse will be small. However, due to the dependence on the atmospheric conditions, each eclipse is different from the other.
A lunar eclipse, unlike a solar eclipse, is visible to anyone who sees the moon above the horizon at the time of the eclipse. Since a lunar eclipse occurs, as mentioned, near or during the full moon, the moon rises near or during sunset. Hence, a lunar eclipse will always be visible to an observer after sunset or before sunrise. The peak of the current eclipse is after midnight, on the night between March 3 and March 4, 2007.
The phases of the eclipse
(The times are given in winter time. In the case of driving summer time, an hour must be added to the indicated times):
22:16:29 – (point P1 in the figure) the lunar eclipse begins, when the moon will enter the partial shadow of the earth. At this stage no change in the light of the moon will be seen because the area of the penumbra is only hidden from some of the sun's rays.
23:30:05 - (point U1 in the figure) the partial eclipse begins - the moon enters the full shadow of the earth - at this stage, we will see a dark spot on the eastern side of the moon (remember that the northern side of the moon faces north and is not perpendicular to the horizon! ). The stain will spread. The sharp-eyed will be able to see a slight shadowing of the eastern side of the moon before this phase, when it will be deep within the Earth's penumbra. Therefore, it will be difficult to clearly see the beginning of the partial eclipse phase and the transition of the moon from the penumbra to the full shadow.
00:43:49 – (point U2 in the figure) At this point, the last point of light leaves the moon on its northwest side and the whole moon is in the full shadow area and the full eclipse phase begins. The sun's light rays that manage to pass through the atmosphere and break into the shadow area manage to paint the moon with a reddish hue.
01:20:56 – The peak of the eclipse. The moon is slightly north of the center of the shadow cone. Now, the northern side of the moon, closer to the edge of the shadow, is colored reddish-yellow. To its southern side, which is closer to the center of the shadow, fewer rays manage to reach its northern side, so it will appear darker.
01:58:01 – (point U3 in the figure) the moon begins to leave the full shadow area and the first point of light is visible on its northeastern side. Now, the phase of the total eclipse is over and the moon is once again in the phase of a partial eclipse.
03:11:47 – (point U4 in the figure) the last shadow point leaves the moon on its western side. The moon leaves the full shadow area and returns to the partial shadow area.
04:25:27 – (point U5 in the figure) the eclipse is over. The moon leaves the partial shadow area.
Details about the eclipse, including a live broadcast from the observatory in Givatayim On-Line, will be on the association's website www.astronomy.org.il and on the Ynet website.
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I took it down because the segment dealt not only with the space station but also with the shuttle, the launch of which was delayed, so the dates are not relevant. Email me and I'll forward you Amir Burnett's email.
My father - downloaded from the previous article - on Purim the moon will disguise itself as a tomato, the reference to the International Space Station. I miss the website where you can check her shows.