The winter solstice and a lunar eclipse converge tonight in a midnight extravaganza.(You can learn more about tonight's eclipse here.)
One of the wonders of lunar eclipses is the color of the moon. It turns coppery-red, reflecting the sunlight filtered through the earth's shadow. Because of recent volcanic eruptions, the color may be even deeper than usual this year.
The eclipse begins at 1:33 am Tuesday morning. Totality happens at 2:41 am and lasts 72 minutes. The eclipse ends (that is, the moon totally exits the earth's umbra, the conical core shadow) at 5:01 am.
So settle in for a sweet evening's nap, rise around midnight, make a thermos of your favorite cocoa or cider, or something harder if you wish, snuggle up with a loved one and spend some time gazing at one of the greatest shows above earth.
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