There is a Total Lunar Eclipse happening on 10th December 2011 Saturday evening from about 7.33pm to 1.30am Singapore Time (+8 UT).
WHEN IS THE ECLIPSE?
In Singapore time:
Penumbral Eclipse Begins: 7.33 pm (saturday)
Partial Eclipse Begins: 8.45 pm
Total Eclipse Begins: 10.06 pm
Greatest Eclipse: 10.31 pm
Total Eclipse Ends: 10.57 pm
Partial Eclipse Ends: 12.17am (sunday)
Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 1.30 am
(source: NASA Eclipse Website )
The most exciting part of the Eclipse to observe is when the partial eclipse turns total and the Moon turns coppery red!
HOW TO OBSERVE THE ECLIPSE?
To observe this eclipse, just looks towards East for the rising Moon. You do not need to go a very dark place or very high to observe the eclipse. But such environment can enhance the mood of enjoying the eclipse and other stars and planets visible on the same night.
It is safe to observe with just our naked eyes alone, i.e. no special visual equipment is required. But with a telescope or binocular or high-zoom camera/camcorder lens, you can also enjoy the close up look of the eclipse and the surface features of the Moon during the eclipse.
The eclipse may be fully or partially visible in other countries. Please refer to this image to find out: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Visibility_Lunar_Eclipse_2011-12-10.png
WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT THIS ECLIPSE?
This lunar eclipse is special because:
(1) It is a total lunar eclipse, not partial which happens more frequently. The next total lunar eclipse is in 2014.
(2) A lunar eclipse does not always occur at a suitable observing-friendly time like a weekend evening.
(3) During a lunar eclipse, not all locations in the world can view it from start to finish. Singapore is one such location for this upcoming eclipse.
WHERE ARE THE OPEN-TO-PUBLIC EVENTS TO OBSERVE THE ECLIPSE WITH TELESCOPES FOR FREE?
(1) Toa Payoh Central Coummunity Club
organise by members of Singastro forum
http://www.singastro.org/forum2/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10327
(2) One Fullerton
organise by members of Singastro forum:
http://www.singastro.org/forum2/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10309
(3) Labrador Park (at the Berlayer Beacon facing Sentosa):
organise by The Astronomical Society of Singapore (TASOS)
http://www.tasos.org.sg/
I am personally involved in the team helping out at Toa Payoh Central CC. If you have queries for the other 2 events, you may approach the respective organisers as provided in the links above.
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TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE @ TOA PAYOH CENTRAL CC
Date: 10th December 2011, Saturday.
Time: 8 pm -- 11 pm
Admission: Free. Open to Public.
Venue: Toa Payoh Central Community Club
(opposite library, a few minutes walk from Toa Payoh MRT station)
Google Map --> http://goo.gl/AyV2U
This event is strictly non-profit and organised purely out of goodwill to let the public enjoy astronomical wonders at no charge. There will be no commercial activities involved, no touting of any commerical services or astronomical products, no compulsory forms to fill up.
Our volunteers are not paid and the telescopes and related equipment depolyed are from their own private collection. As such, we would like to advise visitors not to touch the telescopes without their permission. We would also like to advise visitors not to consume any food and beverage in the vicinity of such equipment to prevent potential accidental damage to them.
These are 2 videos of the observation area at the sheltered roof terrace at level 3:
The lights there will be switched off to minimise stray lights intefering with the telescope observation session and also for big screen/LCD projections during the public talks and live eclipse streaming sessions.
Depending on the length of the telescope queues, you may use your phone camera to take a photo of the eclipse through the telescope or we may assign a queue specifically for that.
There is free wireless@sg wifi reception at the observation area which you can also make use of to update your social media accounts or upload photos during the eclipse.
Feel free to bring your family and friends along and enjoy a casual and cozy eclipse observation session at the CC!
For the latest updates, you may visit or follow us at http://www.twitter.com/astrosg .
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