Moon to put on a show Wednesday

By requiring no special tools of its viewers, the unusual lunar sighting is one of the most democratic of its kind, said Andrew Fraknoi, emeritus professor of astronomy at Foothill College.

But there’s a catch — Wednesday’s celestial phenomena are set to begin as early as 3:48 a.m. when the partial eclipse begins, favoring early risers and those with a clear line of sight to the ocean.

“The bad news is you have to get up in the morning,” he said. “And you have to get up pretty early.”

With a total eclipse of the Earth’s shadow over the moon lasting 76 minutes, from 4:52 a.m. to 6:08 a.m., Fraknoi said the upcoming lunar event affords a more casual experience for those hoping to get a glimpse of it than the solar eclipse causing a stir this summer.

For Darryl Stanford, professor of astronomy at College of San Mateo, Wednesday’s events make for a hands-on learning opportunity for the hundreds of students he’s teaching this semester. Stanford said the combination of events, which he said last occurred in 1866, has been an engaging topic with his students, many of whom are planning to rise early to witness it for themselves.

“It’s great because then you have all this feedback,” he said, adding that he’s looking forward to reviewing stories and photos from the event at his classes later this week.

Though Stanford noted Peninsula residents have a larger window during which they can view the lunar eclipse than they did this summer, he said those counting on catching the last few minutes of the total eclipse could risk missing it should mountains or trees block their view of the horizon to the west while the moon sets.

“You really have to scout out your western horizon,” he said.

Stanford and Fraknoi agreed making to sure catch the total eclipse on the earlier side is many viewers’ safest bet to catch of glimpse of the moon while it is higher in the sky. Viewers will also have a better shot at witnessing the red hue that overtakes the moon during the total eclipse, which Fraknoi said occurs as a result of sunlight bending through the Earth’s atmosphere.

Stanford said the deepness of the red color can depend on the how much dust is in the atmosphere, adding that the color can range from orange to rosy red to a deep red. He said an eclipse following the eruption of volcanic Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1993 made for a deeper red tone than others.

Though Fraknoi noted the unusual nature of having the three events come together at once, he said what’s most notable about Wednesday’s events is the convergence of a lunar eclipse with a blue moon, which he said isn’t expected happen again until Dec. 31, 2028.

With miles distancing San Mateo County from the San Francisco fog, promising weather forecasts and ample views of the western horizon, Peninsula residents are in a good position to take in the celestial events slated for Wednesday morning, said Stanford. Though he noted the early wake-up call could be the only hindrance for some Peninsula residents, Stanford noted many already rise early to fit in workouts and work.

“Some folks get up early,” he acknowledged, adding he’s planning on taking photos of the eclipse from his home in Pacifica. “I’m not one of them but I’m going to set my alarm this time.”

Visit skyandtelescope.com/observing/january-lunar-eclipse/ for more information on the lunar eclipse. Foothill College will be hosting an eclipse party 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. at the Foothill College Observatory, 4100 Perimeter Road, in Los Altos. Visit foothill.edu/astronomy/pdf/Foothill-Lunar-Eclipse-Jan-31.pdf for more information.

anna@smdailyjournal.com

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