Wabash County Astronomical Society

February 2008 Full Lunar Eclipse

In case you’ve been living in a cave for the past week or so, starting at 8:45PM Wednesday February 20th, 2008 the clouds parted and we were treated to the last full lunar eclipse visible from North America until 2010. A lunar eclipse occurs when as the moon orbits the earth and passes behind the earth in its shadow, the moon disappears. If you saw the eclipse at it totality, you noticed that the moon became a dark, copper colored red. This color is from the “stuff” in the earth’s atmosphere. The view was magnificent with the star Regulus to the east of the moon and the planet Saturn to the west of the moon.

It just so happens that in the 1490’s, Christopher Columbus, who was stranded on an island with his crew among unfriendly natives, knew about the upcoming lunar eclipse. He threatened the natives to get food, clothing and shelter from them by stating he’ll make the moon disappear. The superstitious natives gave in and helped Columbus and his crew, survive on the island.

Many people wonder why astronomy is an important science. I wonder what would have happened if Columbus didn’t know about the impending eclipse and know how to use it to his advantage?

WCAS Home

This is the future site of the Wabash County Astronomical Society. Stay tuned for updates!

Here is the Clear Sky Clock for Wabash.