LUNAR ECLIPSE

The lunar eclipse tonight will be visible to the naked eye, but may not be noticed by novice star-gazers. This lunar eclipse is what is known as a penumbral lunar eclipse. This is considered by many astronomers to be the “least interesting” type of eclipse. Unlike a total lunar eclipse, where the moon passes directly through the earth’s darkest inner shadow, the moon will not turn red. The moon will pass through the earth’s outer shadow, causing a subtle shading across the surface of the moon. The shadow blocks some, but not all of the sun’s rays from hitting the moon. If you want to see if you can notice the difference look up at into the sky tonight, 02/10/17 at 7:43 pm ET.

COMET 45P

This next phenomenon is for advanced star-gazers only. Comet 45P has been visible for the month of February, and will be at its closest point to earth overnight. Look for the blue-green orb with a bright tail passing through the constellation Hercules at 3:00 am ET 02/11/17. (If you can’t find Hercules you wouldn’t have seen the comet anyway.) You will need dark skies-no light pollution-and binoculars or a telescope to see Comet 45P. At its closest point tonight, the comet will be 7.4 million miles away, that’s 30x the distance from the earth to moon!

VISIBLE PLANETS

While you’re out star-gazing this weekend, keep an eye out for some of the planets visible in the night sky during February. Look west at dusk, or nightfall, to see Mars and Venus. Jupiter becomes visible in early evening and stays out until dawn. Look Southwest for Jupiter. Saturn and Mercury can be seen when you’re facing south, but these are morning-only planets. Saturn and Mercury are only visible from pre-dawn until sunrise.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

Total Solar Eclipse August 21, 2017- once in a life time experience, much more impressive than tonight’s lunar eclipse.

Comet 45P returns in 2022.