Press release
Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute
Via the Internet, the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) is making its West Optical Telescope available to the public for viewing the total lunar eclipse during the early morning hours Tuesday .
Our West Optical Observatory features a 0.4 meter telescope fitted with an Apogee Alta E42 camera,” said PARI Science Director Dr. Michael Castelaz. “We will be watching and recording the eclipse and decided to make it possible for the public to join us. Weather permitting, this eclipse should provide some spectacular views because the Moon will be in full eclipse, well up into the western sky.”
To view the eclipse, visit http://www.pari.edu/telescopes/OpticalTelescopes/WOT/ or visit the PARI web site, www.pari.edu, select Telescopes and instruments, then select Optical telescopes, then select West Optical Observatory.
“An eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth’s shadow,” explained Dr. Castelaz. “As the Moon orbits the Earth it comes to full Moon every 29 ½ days. Most months when this happens the Moon passes above or below the Earth’s shadow and we don’t have an eclipse. But twice a year, or sometimes three times a year, the Moon passes through the shadow and we get an eclipse.”
Here’s what will be happening early Tuesday morning:
12:54 a.m. Moon starts to enter the penumbra of the Earth’s shadow. This is extremely subtle and it will be about 30 minutes before anything is noticeable.
1:58 a.m. Moon starts to enter the umbra of the Earth’s shadow. Look for a “notch” in the left edge of the Moon.
3:07 a.m. Moon is entirely in the umbra; totality begins.
4:25 a.m. Moon starts to leave the umbra; totality is over.
5:33 a.m. Moon is completely out of the umbra. Penumbral phase continues.
6:38 a.m. Moon is completely out of the penumbra. Eclipse is over.
About PARI
The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) is a public not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) foundation established in 1998. Located in the Pisgah National Forest 30 miles southwest of Asheville, NC, the PARI campus was selected in 1962 by NASA as the site for one of the first U.S. satellite tracking facilities. Today, the 200 acre campus houses radio and optical telescopes, earth science instruments, 30 buildings, a fulltime staff and all the infrastructure necessary to support STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education and research. PARI offers educational programs at all levels, from K-12 through post-graduate research.
PARI is home to the Astronomical Photographic Data Archive and a member of the NC Grassroots Science Museums Collaborative. PARI’s Exhibit Gallery displays a collection of rare meteorites as well as NASA Space Shuttle artifacts, many of which have flown in space. For more information about PARI and its programs, visit www.pari.edu. Follow PARI on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Astronomy_PARI. “Like” PARI on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Pisgah.Astronomical.Research.Institute.
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