If you're in the US, and happen to be awake right now, you are probably planning to watch the highly publicized, excessively hyped and over-dramatized (kidding) lunar eclipse. In case, you're one of those who live under a rock, there is a total lunar eclipse, happening, oh, I'd say right about now.
This event is so popular that NASA even created a special page for it, just so you wouldn't miss it. Unfortunately for NASA, their web server seems to be crying out for help and here I am ready to give a helping hand, with special thanks to Google (since they own Blogger). Hopefully, it'll fare better than NASA's server.
So here are some of the stuff from NASA's page on the lunar eclipse (the more important stuff like when you can see the total eclipse). I've highlighted some stuff in bold.
Times and Phases of the Total Lunar Eclipse of August 28, 2007
From start to finish, August's lunar eclipse lasts about three hours and thirty-three minutes (not including the penumbral phases which are very difficult to see).
The partial eclipse begins as the Moon's eastern edge slowly moves into the Earth's umbral shadow.
During the partial phases, it takes just over an hour for the Moon's orbital motion to carry it entirely within the Earth's dark umbra.
The color and brightness of the totally eclipsed Moon can vary considerably from one eclipse to another.
Dark eclipses are caused by volcanic gas and dust which filters and blocks much of the Sun's light from reaching the Moon.
But since no major volcanic eruptions have taken place recently, the Moon will probably take on a vivid red or orange color during the total phase.
After the total phase ends, it is once again followed by a partial eclipse as the Moon gradually leaves the umbral shadow.
The total phase of a lunar eclipse is called totality.
At this time, the Moon is completely immersed within the Earth's dark umbral shadow.
During the August 28 eclipse totality will last 90 minutes.
This is less that the maximum possible duration of 107 minutes (see: Total Lunar Eclipse of July 16, 2000).
The major phases of the eclipse occur as follows (all times are GMT or Greenwich Mean Time).
The partial eclipse commences with first umbral contact at 08:14 GMT. Totality begins at 09:52 GMT and lasts until 11:22 GMT.
The partial phases end at 12:23 GMT.
Eclipse times for time zones in the United States and Canada are shown in the following table.
| Total Lunar Eclipse of August 28, 2007 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | Other | |||||||
| Event | Time EDT | Time CDT | Time MDT | Time PDT | Time ADT | Time HST | Time GMT | |
| Partial Eclipse Begins: | 04:51 am | 03:51 am | 02:51 am | 01:51 am | 12:51 am | 10:51 pm* | 08:51 am | |
| Total Eclipse Begins: | 05:52 am | 04:52 am | 03:52 am | 02:52 am | 01:52 am | 11:52 pm* | 09:52 am | |
| Mid-Eclipse: | 06:37 am | 05:37 am | 04:37 am | 03:37 am | 02:37 am | 12:37 am | 10:37 am | |
| Total Eclipse Ends: | 07:22 am | 06:22 am | 05:22 am | 04:22 am | 03:22 am | 01:22 am | 11:22 am | |
| Partial Eclipse Ends: | 08:24 am | 07:24 am | 06:24 am | 05:24 am | 04:24 am | 02:24 am | 12:24 am | |
| Key to Time Zones | |
|---|---|
| Zone | Description |
| EDT | Eastern Daylight Time (= GMT - 4 hours) |
| CDT | Central Daylight Time (= GMT - 5 hours) |
| MDT | Mountain Daylight Time (= GMT - 6 hours) |
| PDT | Pacific Daylight Time (= GMT - 7 hours) |
| ADT | Alaska Daylight Time (= GMT - 8 hours) |
| HST | Hawaiian Standard Time (= GMT - 10 hours) |
| GMT | Greenwich Mean Time |
For the non-US people, there's supposed to be a webcast at this link. But it's not working. Bumper.