Club moon-eyed over lunar eclipse

    In addition to the recent surge of solar activity from the sun, another solar event is almost upon NE Campus.
   A lunar eclipse will occur Saturday, Nov. 8, and the Astronomy Club has planned a viewing event, the Lunar Eclipse Watch, so people can gather to watch the total eclipse of the moon.
  This eclipse is drawing some attention for a number of reasons, according to astronomers. This event will be a total eclipse, as opposed to a partial or penumbral eclipse. In a partial eclipse, the moon itself can be seen by the naked eye, and only a portion of the moon is in the Earth’s umbral shadow. In a penumbral eclipse, the moon’s eclipse is unnoticeable by anything other than telescopes.
  However, in a total eclipse, the moon is completely covered by the shadow of the Earth. When the Earth’s shadow blocks the moon, the moon takes on a vibrant range of colors that anyone can see.
  This lunar eclipse will be the last one visible from the North Texas region until October 2004.
  The Lunar Eclipse Watch organizers will begin to setup before sunset, and students can arrive anytime around then.
  The eclipse will occur directly at sundown and may be difficult to notice for that reason. However, the club will set up telescopes so people can actually watch the shadow the Earth creates as it creeps across the moon’s surface. The eclipse itself will last for 24 minutes.