A total eclipse of the moon will be visible on Saturday, December 10, followed by a meteor shower
The totally eclipsed moon will take on a dull rusty red-orange color due to the absorption of the blue and green parts of the solar spectrum as sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere on its way toward the moon. In other words, the moon’s reddish glow is caused by light from all the sunrises and sunsets on Earth
”No telescopes or other optical aids are needed to see and enjoy the eclipse, but binoculars will make it more vivid,” napavalleyregister.com quoted John Charlesworth, an astronomer, as saying.
According to CNET, to watch the total lunar eclipse, people might also be the first to try the beta version of a new Android app.
Known as SkySafari, the app has been available for iOS devices for a while. But now, just in time for the lunar eclipse, the app is being released into a free beta for Android.
"SkySafari is the only mobile astronomy app which can correctly reproduce this December's total lunar eclipse, or any other," an announcement for the new app reads. "SkySafari's Plus and Pro versions have the largest database of any mobile astronomy app, and are the only ones which can control backyard telescopes."
Those wanting to use the app during the beta period – which will end on December 31, must have Android OS version 2.2 or later. Those wishing to use SkySafari on iOS devices will have to pay for it, however.
Armenian Astronomical Society, says the total lunar eclipse will start at 2.06 pm and will last 51 minutes 8 seconds to end at 2.57pm.
