[net.space] The 3clipse is comming, The 3clipse is coming!!

kek (12/17/82)

                         * * *

Don't forget there is a total lunar eclipse on the morning of
December 30th. This will be the last total eclipse visible to
North Americans for many years. It is also the third total eclipse
this year, although one was not observable in North America.
It will be over 500 years before this particular feat is repeated.

This upcoming eclipse will not be as spectacular as the one of last
July since the moon will pass well to the north of the center of
the Earth's umbra. This will shorten totality to 66 minutes
(compared with 106 minutes for the July event - the longest since
1736 in the western hemisphere).

Observers on the East Coast will be at a disadvantage since the
moon will be setting and the sun will be rising. However, West
Coasters should find the moon high in the sky and the eclipse
will be over well before sun-up.

Approximate event times are as follows:

moon enters penumbra    8:52 (UT)
moon enters umbra       9:50
beginning of totality  10:58
mid-point of totality  11:29
end of totality        11:59
moon leaves umbra      13:07
moon leaves penumbra   14:06

HAPPY VIEWING !!

                                Ken Kepple
                                BTL Holmdel
                                5941ux!kek

rjk (12/18/82)

A lot of netters should remember that last eclipse... I remember
laying on the grass near that big church next to the hotel in
Boston at Usenix...  It was *hot* there!   Brrrrrrrrrr.........
						Randy King