Lunar Eclipse December 20th

The first total lunar eclipse

2010-12-22T13:17:00.000-08:00

The first total lunar eclipse on the winter solstice since 1638 and only the second in 2,010 years wowed stargazers in North America. The lunar eclipse started on Dec. 20 and lasted a few hours into the wee morning hours of the winter solstice Dec. 21.
If the weather was clear, people could see the moon gradually darken and even turn a reddish-coppery color as some light reached the moon thanks to sunbeams going around the edges of the earth. The next time a lunar eclipse happens on the winter solstice is in 2094. The last time North America saw a total lunar eclipse was in February 2008.
Other lunar eclipses have had historical significance. Here's a brief look at some of them thanks to NASA's website.
Ferdinand Columbus, the second son of intrepid explorer Christopher Columbus, noted a lunar eclipse in his log as his Spanish troops were negotiating with natives in the New World. Columbus used the eclipse to his advantage as the natives became frightened and gave the Spaniards any supplies and food they needed when they saw the moon darken in 1504.
Young astronomer Tycho Brahe was an ardent pupil of the science he was able to predict a lunar eclipse with great certainty in 1573. Recorded by Dr. John Steele, even Brahe himself said he was surprised his prediction had come true.
The Arabs saw the amazing site of two eclipses in 15 days in 1433. The first eclipse was a partial solar eclipse on the new moon followed by a lunar eclipse 15 days later. Both of them occurred during the Muslim prayer time.
The total lunar eclipse of Dec. 20 and into Dec. 21 is a rare astronomical phenomenon made possible by the precise alignment of the sun, moon and Earth. Because of the positioning needed, lunar eclipses only happen when the moon is full.
Other phenomenon are even rarer than the most recent eclipse. In 2012, two very distinct events happen regarding astronomical phenomenon. Nov. 13, 2012, sees a total solar eclipse followed by an extremely rare transit of Venus across the sun on Dec. 21, 2012. A transit of Venus happens in eight years but only in clusters of two every 130 years.
The lunar eclipse December 20 was a rare event indeed as the last lunar eclipse on the winter solstice happened when the U.S. was first being settled by colonists.

Lunar Eclipse NASA

2010-12-21T10:26:00.001-08:00

Take a look at this article from nasa
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/watchtheskies/index.html

Lunar Eclipse LIVE STREAM

2010-12-21T10:23:00.001-08:00

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Live+stream+Rare+lunar+eclipse+best+seen+screen+skies/4005859/story.html

Pictures of December's lunar eclipse from around the world

2010-12-21T10:22:00.000-08:00

On the night of 20 December or early on the morning of 21 December, depending on your location, many around the world were able to witness a phenomenal and rare total lunar eclipse, watching as the Earth passed directly between the sun and the full moon, shrouding it in shadow and transforming the white image into a stunning deep red glow. The event was especially significant as it coincided with the winter solstice, something that hasn't occurred in 372 years, and won't come around again until 2094.
Scientists have used lunar eclipses to advance the study of chemicals necessary for life in the universe. Two teams of astronomers have been using the effects of the eclipse to figure out what Earth might look like as a distant, extrasolar planet orbiting another star. By analyzing the light reflected off the moon during a lunar eclipse -- light that has passed through Earth's atmosphere -- they have detected gases in the atmosphere that indicate the presence of organic life on the planet.

Click here for pictures and videos

Total Lunar Eclipse

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Bruce Stokes sent us this picture of the lunar eclipse taken from Exhall, Coventry

Did you see the rare total lunar eclipse in Coventry and Warwickshire?

For the first time in centuries, the eclipse coincided with the winter solstice, exciting pagans and stargazers in equal measure.
The total lunar eclipse happened around 0700 on Tuesday, 21 December in partially cloudy skies.
During the eclipse, the full Moon passed through the shadow created by the Earth and turned a copper colour as the Sun's light was blocked.

Local view

Manny Coulon took a series of photographs from Dunchurch, near Rugby

Experts said the best viewing conditions for the eclipse were from North and Central America, parts of Northern Europe and East Asia.
However, some of you were lucky with the partial cloud cover in Coventry and Warwickshire. Bruce Stokes sent us the stunning photograph above, taken in Exhall near Coventry.
Manny Coulon has sent us a series of photographs showing the progress of the Earth's shadow across the Moon.

Lunar Eclipse Live: Historic Lunar Eclipse Live December 2010

2010-12-21T10:18:00.000-08:00

Lunar Eclipse live will occur on December 21, 2010. The NASA has predicted that the historic moment will be visible after midnight EST on December 21 in North America and South America.

The total Lunar Eclipse is expected to last for three-and-a-half hours and the skies will be clear and free from clouds.
According to NASA, the beginning of the total eclipse will be completely visible to the north Europeans, just before their sunrise. The end of the Eclipse will be visible during the sunset for Japan and Northeastern Asia. But unfortunately, the Lunar Eclipse will not be visible from South and East Africa along with the Middle East and South Asia.
The lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes behind the Earth, blocking the sun’s rays striking the moon. This happens exactly only when the Sun, Earth and the Moon are aligned in a same line.
This is the first total lunar eclipse from three years, where as the last has been on 20th of February 2008.

Lunar Eclipse Dates

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Click here to check out the latest lunar eclipse dates

When is the next lunar eclipse?

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When is the next lunar eclipse?

The answer is

The next lunar eclipse is- June 15, 2011

And the one after is- Nov 13, 2010

Lunar Eclipse 2010 Pictures & Videos

2010-12-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

Lunar Eclipse 2010 Pictures & Videos

These are the pictures from the 2010 lunar eclipse on December the 20th

Here are the videos

Lunar Eclipse December 20th

2010-12-21T06:50:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Lunar Eclipse December 20th on December the 20th 2010 the world was shocked to see the first lunar eclipse since 2008.

Sky watchers around the world have been observing a rare total lunar eclipse.

The best viewing conditions for the eclipse were from North and Central America, parts of northern Europe and East Asia.
Total eclipses can turn the Moon a shade of pink or dark red the eclipse began early on Tuesday morning GMT.
It is the first total lunar eclipse in three years and the first to fall on the Winter Solstice - the shortest day of the year - in nearly 400 years.
The Moon is normally illuminated by the Sun. During a total lunar eclipse, the full Moon passes through the shadow created by the Earth blocking the Sun's light.
Some indirect sunlight can pierce through and give the Moon a dramatic shade of red.
The west coast of America saw the eclipse start on Monday night; observers in North and Central America were able to view the whole event.