Weather permitting, observers in Northwest Indiana will be able to observe a total lunar eclipse on the night of Wednesday, February 20. This is the third of three total lunar eclipses over a twelve month period. There was a total lunar eclipse on March 3, 2007 and August 28, 2007.

The evening begins with moonrise at 5:14 p.m. Fourteen minutes later, the sun sets. The partial eclipse begins at 7:43 p.m. The total portion of the eclipse starts at 9:01 p.m. The mid-point of the eclipse is at 9:26 p.m. The total eclipse ends at 9:51 p.m. and the partial eclipse ends at 11:09 p.m.

No special preparations are required to observe the lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse is safe and easy to observe with the unaided eye. If the sky is mostly clear, the eclipse will be easily visible. Even if the sky is partly or mostly cloudy at the beginning of the evening, glimpses of the moon may be visible during latter portions of the eclipse.

Viewing of the eclipse can be greatly enhanced by using binoculars. Observers should try to watch the moon at the beginning of moonrise and then follow the dark shadow of Earth as it moves across the craters and features of the moon. By using a tripod and camera with a zoom lens, it is possible to photograph the eclipse.

As the moon orbits Earth, the moon sometimes passes through the shadow of our planet. When this occurs, the surface of the moon gradually becomes dark. The lunar eclipse may be partial or total depending upon the position of the sun, Earth, and moon.

Lunar eclipses are different from solar eclipses in several ways. First, lunar eclipses occur at night, while solar eclipses occur during the day. Second, lunar eclipses occur when the moon is full; solar eclipses occur when the moon phase is new. Third, lunar eclipses are visible from a wide portion of Earth, while solar eclipses can be observed only along very narrow paths. Finally, lunar eclipses can be observed safely with the naked eye; solar eclipses re-quire precautions to avoid injury to the eye.

For more information on the eclipse, contact the planetarium at (219) 650-5486 or visit our website at www.mcpstars.org. The Merrill¬ville Community Planetarium is located in Clif-ford Pierce Middle School at 199 East 70th Avenue in Merrillville, Indiana.