East Central CC Hosting Lunar Eclipse Viewing

News Release:

ECCC Astronomy Club to Host Viewing of Lunar Eclipse

Weather permitting, the Astronomy Club of East Central Community College in Decatur will host a viewing with telescopes of the total lunar eclipse on Sunday evening, Sept. 27, beginning at 7:30 p.m. on the East Central campus. The viewing will be set up in front of the Huff Auditorium Building on West Broad Street.

As the full Moon rises in the east, at 8:07 p.m. it enters the main shadow of the Earth, appearing as though a nibble is taken out of the Moon’s northwest. The Moon will be entirely eclipsed at 9:10 p.m., will be darkest at 9:47 p.m., and will appear a different color from brown to red to orange, but cannot be exactly predicted. Totality ends at 10:24 p.m. from the southwest area of the Moon, and will have completely exited the Earth’s main shadow at 11:27 p.m.

Observers are encouraged to use binoculars for personal viewing of the eclipse of the Moon, and visitors can look through the college’s telescopes at the eclipse to 11 p.m. and view the planet Saturn beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The East Central Astronomy Club’s President Anna Claire Housley said, “Considering the last one this spectacular occurred in 1982, before I was even born, I am excited to experience this rare and educational event.”

If you need additional information, contact Bill Wagnon at 205-540-0515.