The Dark Side of the Moon

Of course there really isn't a dark side of the Moon, only a side facing the Earth and a side away from the Earth. Both sides get plenty of sunlight as the Moon circles the Earth. Tonight is as dark as the Moon gets, though. As the entire side facing the Earth enters the Zone of Totality, the Moon is illuminated only by the long, red rays of light passing through the Earth's atmosphere from the Sun. At this one hour the entire Moon is as dark as it gets. Here is what happens tonight as Saturn and the Moon shine in Leo:

Lunar eclipse visible for North America

Don't miss this total lunar eclipse, the last one for nearly 3 years.

The Moon glows red among the background stars of Leo the Lion during the February 20/21 total lunar eclipse. The bright planet Saturn also lies nearby. Astronomy: Roen Kelly The last total lunar eclipse until December 20, 2010, will thrill observers throughout North America February 20. "This eclipse is perfect for getting the family together," Astronomy Senior Editor Michael Bakich says, "because it begins early in the evening." On February 20, eclipse observers should plan to get out lawn chairs, binoculars, and low-power eyepieces. And, this year, better add a blanket. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon, in orbit around Earth, passes into Earth's shadow. Because the Sun isn't a point of light, the shadow has two parts — the inner, darker umbra and the outer, lighter penumbra. If the whole Moon enters the umbra, the eclipse is total. If the umbra hides only part of the Moon, the eclipse is partial. The eclipse's umbral phase begins at 8:43 P.M. EST. On the East Coast, the Moon already stands one-third of the way up in the eastern sky. For West Coast observers, the Moon rises minutes after the umbra touches its surface. Earth's shadow takes 78 minutes to envelop the Moon. Totality (when the Moon lies completely within Earth's umbra) begins at 10:01 P.M. EST. The Moon won't disappear, however. Some sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere falls on the lunar surface. The cleaner our atmosphere is, the lighter the eclipse will be. Dark eclipses generally occur after large volcanic eruptions.

August’s lunar eclipse, seen here, put on a nice show from western North America. This month’s total eclipse, in contrast, favors the whole continent. Stephen James O’Meara

What color will the Moon turn at mideclipse? During past total eclipses, the Moon has appeared brown, orange, crimson, and brick red. Lunar eclipses exhibit a range of shades because sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere becomes scattered and reddened. It's this dim glow that fills Earth's shadow and lights the eclipsed Moon.

During totality, the Moon's northern edge will appear darker than its southern side. This disparity occurs because the Moon's northern limb will lie closer to the center of Earth's shadow.

Totality lasts 51 minutes. During the first half, as the sky becomes progressively darker, the background stars of Leo the Lion will appear. The constellation's brightest star, Regulus, appears 3° (6 Moon-widths) above the Moon.

You also will spot Saturn easily 4° (8 Moon-widths) to the Moon's lower left. The eclipse is a great time to notice how the Moon moves through the sky. As the eclipse begins, the Moon lies 4.4° from Saturn. When the event ends, the gap measures only 3.5°.

After totality, it takes the Moon another 78 minutes to leave Earth's umbra.

Watch it.