Total eclipse of the moon coming

2:02pm Monday 18th February 2008

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I WANT you to grab your diaries and write the following under February 21: "Set alarm clock for ridiculously early to watch eclipse of the Moon."

What's happening? Well, basically, early on the morning of Thursday, February 21, instead of looking up and seeing a big blue-white full Moon shining in the sky, we'll see a big orange one! Why? Because at that time the Moon will be moving through Earth's shadow, darkening and changing colour from its usual bright blue-white colour to a dark, dirty, pumpkin orange, and then back again. Astronomers call this event a Total Lunar Eclipse. And although this one is happening between roughly 2am and 5am, it will still be worth getting up early - or staying up late - for, if the weather forecast is favourable. Here's your Eddington Astronomical Guide to the eclipse.

Is it safe to watch? Yes. Unlike observing solar eclipses, observing lunar eclipses is completely safe, and can be seen with just the unprotected naked eye or through binoculars or a telescope.

How do I see it? Easy. To observe this lunar eclipse, all you have to do is go outside just before 01.45 on February 21 and look for the blue-white full Moon blazing in the sky. Soon after 01.45 you'll notice that the upper left area of the Moon seems to be growing darker and, as the minutes pass, it will look like a dark stain' is spreading across it. This stain' will actually be Earth's shadow starting to creep across the Moon. At around 03.00 the Moon will be totally inside the Earth's shadow and will look very strange, more of an orangey-pink colour than its usual blue-white. For the next hour or so the Moon will be a dark orange-red disc hanging above the horizon, and it may even vanish from our view completely if conditions are right. Then, just before 04.00, the eclipse will begin to run in reverse and, as the Earth's shadow begins to slip away from the Moon's bright face, the familiar full Moon will gradually reappear until, at just after 5am on Friday morning (February 22), it will look normal again.

Will I need a telescope? No. Although EAS will be watching the eclipse through our telescopes, and using them to take photos of it too, non-astronomers are better off watching the eclipse with just the naked eye, or through simple binoculars. (Actually, binoculars are great for eclipse-watching because they only magnify the Moon a few times and enhance the eclipse's colours too.) Because the eclipse will be taking place at an unsociable hour, the Eddington Astronomical Society is not holding a public eclipse watch but I'll be up at Kendal Castle to watch it if the sky is clear, and you're free to join me there if you like.

But even if you just want to watch it through your bedroom window, or your garden, remember the eclipse is completely safe, you don't need special filters or glasses to watch it. All you have to do is wrap up warm, go outside, look up, and enjoy it.

If you have a digital camera, try taking some pictures of the eclipse. You will need to steady your camera with a tripod or by putting it on something flat, then zoom in on the Moon to give you a nice big image and set your camera to Auto' - and see what you get.

l Eddington Astronomical Society (EAS website http://slscope.co.uk/eas_web_site/index.html )