Astronomy Public Observing: Lunar Eclipse

The Astronomy group in the Department of Physics and Astronomy will host a public observing session for the lunar eclipse. This is the first eclipse of its kind visible from Tuscaloosa since September of 2015.

Observing will be led by Dr. Keel with others on hand to help.

Lunar eclipses take several hours to progress through all stages.  The full moon will steadily become more shadowed during the partial phase, eventually becoming a dull orange-red during totality, then returning back through similar stages as it passes through the Earth’s shadow.

The timing of this eclipse will be:

• Partial phase begins: 9:33 pm
• Totality begins: 10:41 pm
• Maximum: 11:12 pm
• Totality ends: 11:43 pm
• Partial phase ends: 12:50 am

The event is open to all: young and old, student and non-student, wheel-chair bound or not. In short, it is open to the general public. Although our main telescope, a 16-inch computer-controlled instrument, is not accessible to a wheel-chair-bound visitor, we will have other telescopes on the roof of Gallalee Hall which will be accessible.

Note:
Public observing sessions are conditional on good weather. In case of cloudy or inclement weather, including high winds, public observing will be cancelled. Please check the weather forecast for the day and the Dept. of Physics & Astronomy public observing website before traveling.