When the moon hits your screen

This is a day of many extraterrestrial goings-on.

The space shuttle Atlantis returned safely to terra firma this morning. Later, the U.S. Navy will send a missle into space in order to blow up a disabled satelite before it can spray the Earth with toxic rocket fuel. And early this evening, another event will take place in the heavens — a total eclipse of the moon.

The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute in nearby Rosman will give us ringside seats to the event, weather permitting. No need to drive up the Parkway or wander out into old man Blankenship’s cow pasture. In fact, no need to even step outside.

Just visit the PARI Web site and watch the whole thing through the institute’s “research grade 0.4 meter telescope.”

The show begins a little after 8 p.m. this evening.

— Kent Priestley, staff writer

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