This Tuesday brings a special treat for Winter Solstice. Not only is it Solstice but also there will be a full moon. And it just gets better. There will be a full eclipse of the full moon. The eclipse starts on Tuesday morning, Dec. 21st, at 1:33 am. As it begins, the earth’s shadow will appear as a dark-red bite at the edge of the moon. It takes about an hour for the “bite” to swallow the entire Moon. Total eclipse is at 02:41 am and lasts for 72 minutes.
If you aren’t planning to enjoy the entire eclipse in the dead of winter in the middle of the night, choose this moment: 03:17 am. That’s when the moon will be displaying the most vivid shades of coppery red. The next full eclipse of a full moon on Solstice will be December 21, 2094. I expect to miss that one. This Solstice is a very special celestial treat, if the weather holds out.
