AVON PARK — This Wednesday evening provides Floridians with the last total eclipse of the Moon that will be visible from our part of the world until Dec. 20-21, 2010. If the weather cooperates, Wednesday's eclipse should be a spectacular event. An "Eclipse Star Party" will be held from 8:30-11 p.m. at the Avon Park Middle School for all students, their families and faculty. Six telescopes will be set up and binoculars will also be available. A total lunar eclipse occurs because the sun, the Earth and the Moon are aligned in a straight line, with the Earth taking the in-between position. As sunlight passes the Earth, the shadow of the Earth is cast on the Moon. The shadow will slowly move across the disc of the Moon, almost but not quite hiding the Moon's surface features. Through the telescopes, because of the magnification, one can see the shadow slowly moving across the surface feature, such as a crater or mountain. This actually is the Moon moving in space, in its orbit around the Earth. ...more

February 19, 2008