[AstroNet] Total Lunar Eclipse - early morning Thu Feb 21st.

[Kevin Govender]

Just to follow up on Claire's email, there's also some information on 
the SAAO website (www.saao.ac.za).

Also, please watch out for Saturn which will be right next to the moon 
on that night. There'll also be a bright star (Regulus) which will 
appear to move closer then further from the moon - great for sky 
enthusiasts (this is what I get from Stellarium - really great software 
- www.stellarium.org)

The SAAO is planning to join forces with Lynedoch Primary School 
(Stellenbosch), the Sustainability Institute as part of the Universe 
Awareness (UNAWE) programme to participate in a global event where 
learners from countries such as Chile, Columbia, Venezuela, Spain, 
Bahamas (to mention just a few) will be linked up via a SKYPECAST 
(www.unawe.org) hosted from UNAWE headquarters Holland. We will be 
visiting the school on Wednesday 20th during the day to give a talk to 
the whole school on what we can expect to see that night/next morning. 
There will be about 12 learners who will sleep over at the school on 
Wednesday night and get up very early the next morning to watch the 
eclipse and to share their experiences with kids from these other 
countries and then their friends the next day when we will give a follow 
up talk. We will take telescopes with a solar filter for day and night 
viewing, which should make this a really special experience.

All welcome who would like to join.

Regards
Kevin

Claire Flanagan wrote:
>
> *Total Lunar Eclipse - early morning Thu Feb 21st.*
>
> There will be a total eclipse of the Moon on Thu Feb 21st  before 
> sunrise.
> The eclipse starts at 3:42am and ends 7:08am (after the Moon has set 
> for South Africa).
> The eclipse will be total from 5:00am to 5:50am.  The start and most 
> of totality will be visible from all of South Africa.  The Moon starts 
> recovering from the eclipse at 5:50am, about the time it sets for 
> Jhb.  Cape Town (further to the west) will see some of the recovery. 
>
> Eclipse info for learners is downloadable from www.planetarium.co.za 
> <http://www.planetarium.co.za>
> This material includes moon-watching worksheets for use for the two 
> weeks leading up to the eclipse (i.e. start watching Sat Feb 9th).
>
>  
>
>
> Claire Flanagan
> Jhb Planetarium
> info.planet at wits.ac.za <mailto:info.planet at wits.ac.za>
> www.planetarium.co.za <http://www.planetarium.co.za>
> 011-717-1390
>
>  
>
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Kevin Govender
Manager: SALT Collateral Benefits Programme
South African Astronomical Observatory
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