Total Lunar Eclipse December 2010 Winter Solstice

the eclipse fell on the same date as the year's winter solstice.
the moon appeared very high in the night sky,
as the solstice marks the time when the earth's axial tilt is farthest away from the sun.

the moon takes on this color because indirect sunlight is still able to pass through earth's atmosphere and cast a glow on the moon. our atmosphere filters out most of the blue colored light, leaving the red and orange hues that we see during a lunar eclipse.

unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are perfectly safe to view without any special glasses or equipment.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Total
• Lunar
• Eclipse
• December
• 2010
• Winter
• Solstice

[Jugglerman]

very cool, thanks! I'll share this with a friend who missed it...