Cloud cover has spoiled the hopes of sky-gazers in Brisbane who had anticipated seeing the Moon bathed in a blood-red hue this evening. Many people across Australia were gearing up for a rare lunar eclipse, which astronomers said would leave the Moon red as it rose over the north-eastern horizon around sunset. The eclipse coincidentally marks the summer solstice. Brisbane was tipped to get the best view, with the city expected to see the full lunar eclipse for 13 minutes at moon rise about 6:40pm AEST. Cloud cover, however, allowed only a partial glimpse of the Moon when it was to be at its most colourful. It was to be followed by about an hour of partial eclipse. Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth lines up between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the Sun's rays to the Moon. Residents in Sydney and Canberra were due to see 45 minutes of partial eclipse after 8:00pm (AEDT) ... READ MORE...Tuesday 21 December 2010
'Bloody' clouds spoil rare lunar eclipse
Cloud cover has spoiled the hopes of sky-gazers in Brisbane who had anticipated seeing the Moon bathed in a blood-red hue this evening. Many people across Australia were gearing up for a rare lunar eclipse, which astronomers said would leave the Moon red as it rose over the north-eastern horizon around sunset. The eclipse coincidentally marks the summer solstice. Brisbane was tipped to get the best view, with the city expected to see the full lunar eclipse for 13 minutes at moon rise about 6:40pm AEST. Cloud cover, however, allowed only a partial glimpse of the Moon when it was to be at its most colourful. It was to be followed by about an hour of partial eclipse. Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth lines up between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the Sun's rays to the Moon. Residents in Sydney and Canberra were due to see 45 minutes of partial eclipse after 8:00pm (AEDT) ... READ MORE...