Late October Astrominute

A partial solar eclipse (barely) viewable locally is featured. Reader is Annie Skrabak, '15.

Lunar eclipse wrap-up

photo by Ian Clarke

Here is our view of the eclipse this morning. This was taken from S. Reynolds Ave just west of Gettysburg at 6:25 AM EDT, the beginning of totality. I believe that's the 121st PA Infantry monument in the foreground. We were fortunate. Despite a rainy first half of the night, skies cleared out in time to view the entire eclipse (or as much as was visible before local sunrise).

Lunar Eclipse Time!

I hope locals are ready for the lunar eclipse tonight. Current forecasts are mixed, with the cleardarksky.com forecast being a little more optimistic than the one from Accuweather. But even a few breaks in the clouds may be enough to see yourself some eclipse.

Here is a quick summary:

1. Set the alarm for around 5 AM (all times local)
2. Get out to a place with an unobstructed western view
3. Find the moon, about 2 fist-widths up in the west
4. Partial phase begins at 5:15 (shadow of the earth starts creeping across the moon)
5. Totality starts at 6:25 (meanwhile the moon will be getting lower and the sky will be getting brighter).
6. At 6:45 PM civil twightlight begins
7. At 7:12 the sun rises, and at 7:17 the moon sets. Show over.

Folks in the western US will see a lot more. Learn more by watching our astrominute for early October.

The Sky this Month (October)

Show times: 7 PM on Tuesday, 9/30, and 4:00 PM on Sunday, 10/5. The shows, as always, are free and open to the public, and they run about 50 minutes.

Top on the agenda this month will be the total eclipse of the moon that will be visible here in the early morning hours of October 8. There will also be a partial eclipse of the sun later in the month. Technically, it's also visible locally though only by the barest of margins. The moon will begin to take a tiny bite out of the sun just about a half hour before sunset. Locations west of us will see the eclipse for longer, with the western half of the US seeing the whole show. In some locations that will mean more than half of the sun being obscured by the moon.

**Never look at the sun without proper precautions.**

Stargazing at Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve

Gettysburg College planetarium director Ian Clarke will be leading a night hike and stargazing session at Strawberry Hill preserve near Fairfield Wednesday night. The event is weather permitting, but the forecast is good at this point. (Note - this is a Strawberry Hill event; see details below). Wednesday, September 24 — 8:00 pm, meet at the nature center Explore the science and the stories of the September night sky with Strawberry Hill Naturalist and local planetarium director Ian Clarke. Pack a flashlight for the hike to our viewing location – but once we get there it will be lights out, so our eyes can adapt to the relative darkness of a moonless night on the Preserve.  Ian will guide you on a tour of the stars and planets. This month, that will include a swan, a harp, a dragon, and the Milky Way. Dress in layers. You may find it warm as you hike, but chilly when you’re standing still at the stargazing site. The talk will be aimed at people using their unaided eyes, but feel free to bring binoculars. Due to the hike, however, you should leave telescopes at home. $5 members / $8 non-members; pre-registration preferred. 642-5840 www.strawberryhill.org

Late September Astrominute

The Hatter Planetarium/WZBT astrominute for late September is now online and on the air.

http://public.gettysburg.edu/~iclarke/hatter/podcasts/astrominute091514.mp3

Space Place

Sponsorship message that runs under the NASA content.

We are proud to sponsor NASA's "Space Place" in the Gettysburg Times this school year. Check it out in today'
s paper.