The Total Eclipse of the Moon

Feb. 21, 2008
THE TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE MOON was actually visible in Garrett County last night, beginning around 8:30 or so and becoming totally covered and oddly red around 10. It was best to view it from inside, since the temperature was in the frigid single digits. So often the sky is socked in with clouds when these events take place, but last night was the exception, at least until about 10:15, at which time the sky filled up in what seemed a few minutes, and the snow came back. But the show was great while it lasted. The next one will occur in December 2010. In prehistoric days, such an event must have been terrifying to the people as they witnessed the "sentinel of the night sky" slowly swallowed in darkness, and finally turning red. With the weather that is expected tomorrow, snow and the dreaded ice, perhaps people would have believed that the frightening event was a harbinger of harrowing weather. Or maybe they all just slept through it. Photos and composite by John McEwen.