(CBS SF) Get ready to feast your eyes on an extra special and rare total lunar eclipse Saturday morning that has some Christians worried this Easter weekend.
For the third time in less than a year, the moon will dip into Earths shadow, turning its bright white globe a deep coppery red in a matter of minutes.
The action begins at 3:16 a.m. PST on the morning of April 4 when the edge of the moon first enters the amber core of Earths shadow.
For the next hour and 45 minutes, Earths shadow will move across the lunar disk, ultimately covering the entire moon at 4:58 a.m. PST.
The total phase of the lunar eclipse will only last about 5 minutes, making it the shortest lunar eclipse of the century on the morning of Easter Vigil, traditionally observed as the period between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The eclipse also falls within the first night of Passover, observed by Jews worldwide beginning Friday at sunset.
Some total eclipses last for more than an hour, in this case, totality spans just 4 minutes and 43 seconds since the moon will be skimming the outskirts of the Earths shadow, rather than passing centrally through it.
The moons red tint is caused by the Earth covering the sun. This red light from the rim of the Earth then beams onto moon, transforming it into a giant red orb.
Lunar eclipses usually come in no particular order, but sometimes the sequence is more orderly. When four lunar eclipses are all total, the series is called a tetrad.
This Saturday will be the third of four total eclipses in the 18-month long tetrad series. Previous eclipses occurred on April 15, 2014 and. Oct. 8, 2014. After Saturday, the next one is expected on Sept. 28, 2015. Such a closely-spaced succession of eclipses is a fairly rare occurrence.
Some Christians believe the blood moon lunar eclipse tetrad could be connected to Jesus return or signify a world-changing event about to take place.
According to the King James Bible, The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord comes, (Joel 2:31).
Regardless of your religious beliefs, it will be a breathtaking spectacle youll want to wake up early to see. Just make sure to be outside no later than 4:58 a.m. PST to watch the transition.
The action begins at 3:16 a.m. PST 5:15 a.m. CST on the morning of April 4 when the edge of the moon first enters the amber core of Earths shadow. For the next hour and 45 minutes, Earths shadow will move across the lunar disk, ultimately covering the entire moon at 4:58 a.m. PST 6:58 a.m. CST.
Better.
Not to be an astronomy smart-ass but on the mid- to northern plains, my astronomy program says the times will be five minutes earlier. Which makes little difference unless you have binoculars or a small telescope.
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when its the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when its the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
Jews believe during that feast of trumpets something significant will happen.
Depends on who is in the horn section. Alto Reed and Satchmo (if he were still alive) could make it pretty damn significant.
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when its the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)