2019 Week 4: (January 20-January 26)

This is the week of the Total Lunar Eclipse which will easily be visible from all residents of North and South America.  This, of course, assumes clear skies!  The chart below highlights what else is happening during Eclipse Week!

Date	Event
January 20	Full Moon
January 20/21	Total Lunar Eclipse
January 21	Moon 0.6°S of Beehive
January 21	Moon at Perigee
January 21	Venus 2°N of Jupiter

The Full Moon and the Lunar Eclipse of course coincide as the Moon needs to be on the opposite side of the Earth to be in its shadow.  See Moon Phases below.

https://simonjastronomy.blogspot.com/2017/05/explore-universe-lunar-phases.html

The Calgary times for the eclipse is provided below.

7:36pm - Penumbral Eclipse Starts
8:33pm - Partial Eclipse Starts
9:41pm - Total Eclipse Starts
10:43pm - Total Eclipse Ends
11:50pm - Partial Eclipse Ends
12:48am - Penumbral Eclipse Ends

Further details can be found below.

https://simonjastronomy.blogspot.com/2018/01/total-lunar-eclipse.html

Total Lunar Eclipse (Image Credit: NASA)

The free astronomy software Cartes du Ciel actually shows the shading of the Moon as the Earth's shadow transits its face.  If you would like to download this software a link has been provided.

https://simonjastronomy.blogspot.com/2017/05/free-astronomy-software-cartes-du-ciel.html

The Beehive Cluster will be under 7° away from the eclipse and binoculars should be able to expose this wonderful grouping of stars.  Look approximately 1 or 2 binocular fields to the east of the Moon during the eclipse.  The map below highlights this close encounter.

Sky Map During Eclipse

As you can notice in the table below the Moon reaches perigee relatively close to the Full Moon.  This is typically what some people refer to as a 'Super Moon'.  Although not scientifically defined or used it has become a colloquial expression to generate interest in astronomy.  The Moon is imperceptibly brighter and larger and may cause higher than normal tides.  The Farmer's Almanac which may have appropriated Full Moon names from specific Great Lakes tribes centuries ago refers to this as a 'Wolf Moon'.  Again, not officially recognized, many Native tribes and cultures throughout North America and the World have different names for Full Moons.  This has lead to the expression 'Super Blood Wolf Moon' as the eclipse makes the Moon appear red.

The appearance of a Moon during an eclipse can be qualitatively defined by the Danjon Scale.  Many factors affect the appearance of the Moon.  The most interesting, in my opinion, is recent volcanic eruptions severely darkening its appearance (1992).  More information can be found below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danjon_scale

If you didn't stay up too late watching the eclipse make sure you get up early to see a beautiful conjunction of Jupiter and Venus.  These two friends will be about 2° apart; close enough to capture in a wide field telescope view.  Watch the southeastern sky shortly after 6:30am in the morning to see this sight.  They have been close friends the previous week and will continue to be throughout this next week.  Catch them closely dancing before Venus tracks too far to the east!