NASA ScienceCasts: Solar Eclipse In The USA

A "ring of fire" solar eclipse is coming to the USA this spring. It's the first annular eclipse visible from the contiguous United States in almost 18 years.

NASA: LRO's Diviner Takes The Moon's Temperature During Dec. 10, 2011 Eclipse

During the December 2011 lunar eclipse, scientists will be able to get a unique view of the moon. While the sun is blocked by the Earth, LRO's Diviner instrument will take the temperature on the lunar surface. Since different rock sizes cool at different rates, scientists will be able to infer the size and density of rocks on the moon.

A Lunar Eclipse Over An Indian Peace Pagoda

Click To Enlarge

A Lunar Eclipse Over an Indian Peace Pagoda
Image Credit & Copyright: Chander Devgun (SPACE)

Explanation: Our Moon turned red last week. The reason was that during December 10, a total lunar eclipse occurred. The above digitally superimposed image mosaic captured the Moon many times during the eclipse, from before the Moon entered Earth's shadow until after the Moon exited. The image sequence was recorded over a Shanti Stupa Peace Pagota near the center of New Delhi, India, where the eclipse of the Moon was nearly, but not completely, total. The red tint of the eclipsed Moon was created by sunlight first passing through the Earth's atmosphere, which preferentially scatters blue light (making the sky blue) but passes and refracts red light, before reflecting back off the Moon. Differing amounts of clouds and volcanic dust in the Earth's atmosphere make each lunar eclipse appear differently. The next total lunar eclipse will occur only in 2014.

Lunar Eclipse Draws Stargazers Outside In Tokyo & Beijing

A rare sight in the skies for many around the world Saturday night. A complete lunar eclipse was visible from most parts of the world, except South America. And in China and Japan, people took advantage of the opportunity to get outside for the spectacle.

Gazing At The Word's Last Lunar Eclipse Before 2014

Stargazers from Australia to north America enjoyed the last total lunar eclipse before 2014.

It was the second time this year that the earth cast its shadow over the moon, with only indirect sunlight illuminating it and turning it red. The celestial show lasted for about 51 minutes.

Gerald Tan reports.