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Dec 21 2010

Loony Eclipse

Posted by Mugs @ 3:10 pm in Family,Nature Print This Post Print This Post

Last night, I stayed awake with Gabe and Josiah to watch the total lunar eclipse. Gabe, being Gabe, termed it the Loony Eclipse. Dale heartily agreed with this new name, for he believes anyone who stays up until 3am to watch the moon go dark must be loony.

Zeke attempted to stay awake as well by watching old Christmas cartoons that we had recorded. He made it past midnight, and decided that since it was now the 21st of December, he could eat the piece of chocolate from his Christmas calendar. After his midnight snack of chocolate, he stayed awake watching “Frosty the Snowman”, but faded out sometime during “Twas the Night before Christmas.” (The cartoon with the clock and the mice.)

Gabe went outside every 15 minutes starting at 12:30 am to check the moon. At approximately, 1:30 am the earth started to eclipse the moon and by 2:30 am the moon was totally eclipsed. The moon stayed eclipsed for an hour.

An interesting fact we learned is that the moon stays partially visible throughout the total eclipse because of atmospheric refraction of the sun’s light rays to the earth. The moon is usually tinted red because of the refraction of the red color in the light spectrum.

At times, it would appear that a shadow covered the moon and momentarily it would disappear from view. Than, we would see the color change slightly and the outline would reappear.

Gabe stood outside watching the moon for an hour in shorts and a jacket despite the fact that it was 25 degrees fahrenheit. I walked in and out, periodically warming up by the pellet stove. Josiah stood outside in full snow gear having a bit of sense for once.

It is true that strange and unexpected things happen on the night of a loony eclipse (Josiah having a bit of sense for example). I could have sworn last night that I actually saw the Chicago Bears win the NFC North division and guarantee themselves a spot in the playoffs.

One Response to “Loony Eclipse”

  1. Tami (sis) says:

    we enjoyed the eclipes…as we set our alarm and had a beautiful view…

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