Commentary

Searching the sky: The moon is submerged by a shadow

David Baumgartner writes about the lunar eclipse happening this month.

This article was contributed by David Baumgartner as part of a local series on astronomy.

So on May 26th what is this mysterious shadow messing with our moon, the brightest object in the night sky? Well, it’s actually quite simple. Scientist call it a total lunar eclipse. Simple for me to say because I read it out of a book. It’s amazing what you can get out of a book.

Can you imagine what was going through the minds of medieval man after witnessing an event such as an eclipse, lunar or solar? Being quite religious, and not having too many books available, every time they couldn’t explain some unusual happenings, these long ago relatives of ours would blame the cause or give credit to, God. Which God? We really don’t know. I’m sure they had as many Gods as we have today. But as long as my God is the right one, it doesn’t really matter. (Now please no letters on this, I’m just trying to make a point.) Now what was my point?

Next you will ask; where and when, at what time, and will I be able to witness it? Well, just like anything else in this world we have good news and of course we have some bad news.

The good news is the where; this is the first lunar eclipse we’ve had in the continental U.S. since July of 2018. And also when; as I mentioned above, May 26. That would be just around the corner, which is more good news. And yes, you will be able to witness the first lunar eclipse in our area in a long time.

So my guess is we really don’t have any bad news. It seems to be all good. Well, if there is any bad news at all it would be that the total eclipse only last for 14 minutes, 31 seconds. How, you ask, do I know this astronomical fact? More books of course. Try to keep up.

But it is interesting as much as it is unbelievable how the astronomers have the ability to figure these things out? Probably from books.

And oh yes, maybe one more small piece of bad news (that some people will think anyway) and that would be that the event happens at 4:11:27 a.m. Now this shouldn’t be a problem for you and your family. Just get everyone up at 4 a.m., watch the eclipse for 15 minutes and go back to bed. Let me know how that works out for you. You won’t catch me trying that with my family. I want to live another day to witness more of these night time wonders.

During our show in the sky the entire moon passes through Earth’s umbra, the innermost darkest part of its shadow. In order to accomplish this, the perfect alignment of the Sun, Earth and the Moon (in that order) has to happen, which is quite rare.

I guess I left out one more good news, and that is; we are so used to hearing the words eclipse and warning in the same sentence that we freak out even when we see a total lunar eclipse come up. But not to worry.  Unlike the solar eclipse, the lunar eclipse is completely safe to look at as long as you want with no filters and no danger to your eyes. And that goes for binoculars and telescopes as well.

Try taking your tripod and camera with you, it is very easy to photograph this eclipse. Even if you don’t get your family to go with you, you can at least show them your great looking pictures you took while they were in bed asleep. O well, their loss.

Clear skies,

 

Up and coming events for May:

May 3:  Moon passes 4 degrees south of Saturn

May 3:  Last quarter moon

May 4:  Moon passes 5 degrees south of Jupiter

May 5:  Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks

May 6:  Moon passes 4 degrees south of Neptune

May 11: New moon

May 11: Moon is at apogee (253,595 miles from Earth)

May 12: Moon passes 0.7 degrees south of Venus

May 13:  Moon passes 2 degrees south of Mercury

 

David Baumgartner

I am a local fella. Local schools from Fremont, Sacred Heart, Santa Anita, Hollister High, to San Benito Jr. College (Now Gavilan). Then joined the US Air Force where I specialized in Airborne Radar. Married my high school sweetheart JoAnne., shortly after three children arrived; Cindi, Michael, and Lisa. Somehow we ended up with nine Grandchildren.  Went on to San Luis Obispo, Questa, Colleges, and on to Univ. of New Mexico. Came back to Hollister. Opened up Three Pet Stores; Dave's Aquarium Pets & Supplies in SLO, Watsonville, and Hollister. The family spent two and a half years running a ranch up in Oregon. Made our way back to Hollister.  Got my Real Estate License in 1982, opened my own office in 93'. In the mean time raised Swans and revitalized my old hobby of Astronomy.  In 2001 I was named Chamber of Commence Man of the Year. I think I was the only one nominated. I don't care, I'm taking it. In December of 2018 I retired. Not sure if I was forced out or not. None the less, I am retired and I think it was time. Now the last thing I have to do is buy a coffin. I hear COSCO sells them now. But the only drawback is; you have to buy them in lots of six.  I guess I could buy them for the whole family. Not that funny, but thrifty.