Planetarium to Host Free Telescope Viewing of Total Lunar Eclipse

The eclipse date is also on Pi Day, celebrated by math and science enthusiasts

The William M. Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland College will host a free telescope viewing of the total lunar eclipse on Friday, March 14, weather permitting.
 
The eclipse will be visible through most of North America if the skies aren't cloudy, according to Planetarium Director Erik Johnson. In Champaign, the Moon will start to get a little dimmer at about 11 p.m. on March 13 and begin moving into Earth's umbra, or full shadow, just after midnight. The total eclipse begins around 1:30 a.m. and will last for over an hour.
 
A lunar eclipse happens when Earth goes between the Sun and the Moon. Normally, one would see a full moon, but Earth's shadow can cover the Moon entirely, making it much dimmer. A total lunar eclipse looks red due to sunlight refracted through Earth's atmosphere. Essentially, the Moon is being lit up by all of Earth's sunrises and sunsets.

Planetarium staff, members of the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society, and the Parkland Astronomy Club will set up several telescopes outside the planetarium so visitors can look at the Moon. The circle drive outside the planetarium and the theatre will be blocked off to allow for pedestrian traffic. Visitors should park in the M1 parking lot.
 
The eclipse date, March 14 (3/14), also happens to be a day celebrated by math and science enthusiasts as Pi Day, because pi, the ratio between the circumference and diameter of a circle, can be approximated as 3.14. Johnson remarked that the event could be called a "Lunar Pi-clipse" or "Moon Pie Eclipse," depending on one's level of whimsy.

Contact the planetarium at planetarium@parkland.edu or call 217/351-2568 for questions about the event or for information about booking the dome.

(Photo description: Lunar eclipse over Parkland College in 2015, photo courtesy of Waylena McCully.)