Total Lunar Eclipse...

Even though it'll be very cold outside tonight, there's something happening in the sky that you really should take a look at.  A total Lunar Eclipse will take place this evening and be visible everywhere clears skies abound.  The partial eclipse will begin around 7:43 p.m.  The full eclipse will be between 9:01 p.m. and 9:51 p.m.  All phases will be through by 11:09 p.m.

A Lunar Eclipse happens when the Moon passes through the shadow of Earth.  As it does, the Moon turns colors anywhere from an orange to a vivid red.  Even look for a hint of turquoise.  The reason behind the red color is due to the air and dust particles in the atmosphere.  Those particles redirect the sunlight and turn Earth's shadow a reddish color.  The turquoise color comes from the ozone layer.  Light that passes through the ozone layer actually absorbs some of the red color and comes out bluer.

Head outside with your binoculars to a dark spot around town and look up.  You can also head to the Cartwright Center on the UW-La Crosse campus between 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.  They'll have telescopes available in case you don't have any binoculars.

Get out there and check it out!

Thanks for checking in...

Zach Brown, Daybreak Meteorologist