Attention y’all:

Lunar eclipse tomorrow morning!

Tomorrow night is the shortest day/longest night of the year, which means the eclipse will be longer than usual and more easily visible.  Look for it to start around 1:33 AM and last 3.5 hours, with the peak (the totality phase, when the moon is entirely in the earth’s shadow)  occurring at 2:41 AM 12/21.

Bonus: due to recent volcanoes and dust storms, the moon could appear an amber color.

Extra super bonus: This is the first time in 456 years that a lunar eclipse has fallen on the winter solstice.  Oooooo!  Set an alarm, and don’t miss it!

[Photo taken by yours truly using the telescope at Williston Observatory at Mount Holyoke College in 2005.]