University of Virginia Library

Lunar Eclipse

At about 1 a.m. Tuesday night, those who are
serious students of astronomy as well as anyone
who had nothing better to do may have observed a
total lunar eclipse over the Charlottesville area. A
lunar eclipse, while not an exceptionally rare
occurrence, is a phenomenon which once seen, is
not soon forgotten.

In its total phase, which can last up to
approximately one hour and 40 minutes, the
moon exhibits a brick-red color, due to the
presence of some light refracted through the
earth's atmosphere. According to authorities at the
Astronomy Department, the complete
disappearance of the moon is a rare occurrence
due to this refraction.

This eclipse lasted one hour and thirty minutes
as seen from the United States. The last eclipse
visible in the United States was on August 17 of
last year; the next one will occur on January 30,
1972. All pictures are by Andy Stickney.