This year's winter solstice (official start to winter) will coincide with a total lunar eclipse...in a union that hasn't been seen in 456 years! Both the solstice and the lunar eclipse will occur tomorrow, Tuesday, the 21st though at different times of the day. You can't see the solstice...but it will occur at 6:38 pm tomorrow evening meaning that the winter season officially begins...winter solstice occurs when the Sun's most direct rays hit on a latitudinal position of the Earth known as the Tropic of Capricorn...it's basically the time of year when the sun's most direct rays are the farthest away from us!
Also happening tomorrow, or really late tonight, something we can see...a total lunar eclipse! A total lunar eclipse is when the Moon travels completely into the Earth's shadow, blocking the sun's rays from striking the Moon. The Moon does not completely disappear as it passes through the Earth's shadow because of refraction of sunlight through atmosphere...if the Earth had no atmosphere, the Moon would be completely dark during an eclipse. Instead, the Moon will appear dimmed and may take on a reddish hue due the scattering of sunlight by air molecules and atmospheric particles. A lunar eclipse can only occur when there is a full Moon. The eclipse will begin at 1:33 am when the Moon begins to enter the Earth's shadow. At 2:41 am, the Moon will become totally eclipsed and remain such until 3:53 am. The best time to view the total eclipse will be during the eclipse's midpoint which occurs at 3:17 am. The entire eclipse will then come to an end at 5:01 am...just in time for WINK News Now this morning!
Sky conditions across SWFL will be perfect for viewing the eclipse very early tomorrow morning with a crystal clear sky in the forecast...but you'll have to bundle up when heading out to take in the view with temperatures in the 40's and upper 30's inland...and if you brave the early hour and the chilly temps to view the total lunar eclipse...be sure to snap some pictures and send them to weather@winktv.com!
Hope to see some great pics of the eclipsed Moon!
Lauren
Also happening tomorrow, or really late tonight, something we can see...a total lunar eclipse! A total lunar eclipse is when the Moon travels completely into the Earth's shadow, blocking the sun's rays from striking the Moon. The Moon does not completely disappear as it passes through the Earth's shadow because of refraction of sunlight through atmosphere...if the Earth had no atmosphere, the Moon would be completely dark during an eclipse. Instead, the Moon will appear dimmed and may take on a reddish hue due the scattering of sunlight by air molecules and atmospheric particles. A lunar eclipse can only occur when there is a full Moon. The eclipse will begin at 1:33 am when the Moon begins to enter the Earth's shadow. At 2:41 am, the Moon will become totally eclipsed and remain such until 3:53 am. The best time to view the total eclipse will be during the eclipse's midpoint which occurs at 3:17 am. The entire eclipse will then come to an end at 5:01 am...just in time for WINK News Now this morning!
Sky conditions across SWFL will be perfect for viewing the eclipse very early tomorrow morning with a crystal clear sky in the forecast...but you'll have to bundle up when heading out to take in the view with temperatures in the 40's and upper 30's inland...and if you brave the early hour and the chilly temps to view the total lunar eclipse...be sure to snap some pictures and send them to weather@winktv.com!
Hope to see some great pics of the eclipsed Moon!
Lauren
