Total Lunar Eclipse
April, 1996
On the evening of April 3 (this Wednesday!), the Moon will enter
Earth's shadow at 5:21 p.m. EST, and will be eclipsed. Observers in
State College, Pennsylvania will see the Moon rise locally on
Wednesday at approximately 6:30 p.m. EST, during the darkest portion
of the eclipse known as totality. The color and visibility of the Moon
will depend on the state of the atmosphere, and in particular, the
concentrations of aerosols, wind blown dust, and particulates from
automobiles, smoke stacks and volcanos; particulates tend to make the
eclipsed Moon look red. Despite missing the Moon's disappearance into
shadow, local observers will be treated to over an hour of totality
(totality ends at 7:53 p.m. EST), followed by nearly 2 hours when the
Moon will grow from crescent to full as it leaves Earth's shadow. The
eclipse will end at 10:04 p.m. EST.
IF WEATHER PERMITS, there will be telescopes manned by members of
the astronomy club on Wednesday evening, from 6:45 p.m. until
9:00-10:00 p.m., in the parking lot area between Bryce Jordan Center
and Beaver Stadium for all interested public.
Below is the local Eclipse Day forecast.
STATE FORECAST FOR WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND THE NORTHERN
PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
308 PM EST MON APR 01 1996
..TUESDAY NIGHT...VARIABLE CLOUDINESS. LOW IN THE 30S.
..WEDNESDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS MOUNTAINS AND
WEST. PARTLY SUNNY SOUTHEAST. HIGH IN THE 50S.
