Lunar eclipse coincides with winter solstice | Environment

For the first time since 1638, a total lunar eclipse will coincide with winter solstice tonight. The eclipse will be visible over the Tennessee Valley beginning Monday, Dec. 20 at 11:29 p.m. CST. You’ll have to stay up until 12:32 a.m. Tuesday Dec. 21 to catch the moon in its umbra phase as it transitions from bright orange to blood red, dark brown and possibly gray. Earth’s shadow will completely cover the moon for a grand total of 72 minutes and the length of the eclipse from beginning to end will be three hours and 28 minutes.

NASA astronomers will be watching the eclipse from the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville and will be hosting a live web chat to discuss the eclipse with lunar enthusiasts. From 11 p.m. until 4 a.m. CST, Marshall researcher Mitzi Adams will answer questions about the eclipse as it passes over the U.S. A live feed of the eclipse will also be available on the same web page, which you can find here:

http://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/lunar_eclipse.html   

For more info from NASA about tonight’s eclipse, click here. Or to read about some of the most famous eclipses in history, including one that saved Christopher Columbus from starving in Jamaica, click here for a link to the History Channel’s website.

If you stay up to take any photos or videos of the eclipse, you can send them in to us at web@wbrc.com.

Enjoy the eclipse, and the first official day of winter!