Turning to totality - March 3

AT 5:30 pm on March 3 ( a Saturday)- as the earth spins - an almost totally eclipsed moon will appear in the east, seven minutes before the sun vanishes below the western horizon.

Will we be able to see it? I don't know. The moon will be full - as it is for any eclipse - but it will be very dull and difficult to pick up in the twilight and on the horizon. (It will be about 8-degrees - a bit less than one - ungloved - fist north of due east.) I intend to be at East Beach in Westport to watch for it and will have a few small scopes and binoculars handy. It will be in total eclipse - the first one visible to us in about two and half years - for roughly the next hour and half. So as astronomical twilight comes to an end and we have genuinely dark skies, the moon will start to creep out of the Earth's shadow.

Why do I expect it to be difficult to see at first? The moon will be dark - or nearly dark - when it rises. Still visible, but I'm not sure what to expect, especially in twilight conditions near the horizon.
But also, the eclipsed moon is one of those events that makes you appreciate just how small the moon is in our skies - only half a degree - the space your little finger's fingernail held at arms length will cover. It's brightness makes the moon look much bigger. But when darkened, it will look its true size and is likely to surprise you with just how small that really is.

There's another total lunar eclipse later this year - but that one favors folks out west - this one favors folks on the East Coast - and also comes at a convenient time for both adults and kids.

Bottom line - I plan to be there and am hoping for clear skies. If you are interested in joining me, let me know and I'll plan accordingly and keep you informed by email of specific plans.