TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s physics and astronomy department will offer the public an opportunity to use its telescopes to view a rare lunar eclipse Thursday, Jan. 20, at Gallalee Hall on the UA campus. Public viewing will begin at 8 p.m.
Dr. Bill Keel, professor of astronomy, said the eclipse may be viewed from one of five telescopes available for the event. Keel, who will be available to answer questions during the event, said the eclipse will be much more visually interesting than the recent “fuller, brighter” moon so widely publicized in December.
“We are in the right part of Earth to get a good view of the whole event, which lasts from 8:03 p.m. to 1:04 a.m.,” said Keel. “Totality, during which the entire moon is within the umbra, will last from 10:04 p.m. to 11:22 p.m. and will make the moon appear in a deep orange or reddish color. Just how dark and what color the moon appears will depend on where clouds and volcanic ash happen to be in our atmosphere at the time.”
For more information on the event, contact Keel at 205/348-1641, or the physics and astronomy department at 205/348-5050.
Contact
Lance M. Skelly, Office of Media Relations, 205/348-3782
Source
Dr. Bill Keel, UA professor of astronomy, 205/348-1641