AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:

LUNAR ECLIPSE NOT VISIBLE IN MANITOBA:

As with so many other astronomical events the first total lunar eclipse to coincide with the winter solstice since 1638 isn't visible tonight in Winnipeg as yet more snow drifts gently down to move us to the wettest year in history. Here in the Central Time Zone the umbral phase is due to begin at 12:32 am, and totality at 1:40 am. Totality will last until 2:53 am, making this one of the longer eclipses. There are two lunar eclipses due next year, so better luck next time.

For the curious you can read all about this eclipse in a wikipedia article now on the web. The full eclipse will be basically a North American event this time around with the old world and much of South America missing large parts of the event. For places other than here in the Great Canadian Snowdrift the wikipedia article gives a chart of the phases for various time zones. A good source for viewing conditions in your locale is the Clear Dark Sky website. Much better and more detailed than the average weather report. For those diehards who just have to see something NASA will host a webcam real time version of the eclipse here. Seems like a very poor substitute to me, but to each their own. There will also be a chat room at the NASA site so you can either praise or howl about viewing conditions where you live.

All I can say is better luck next year.

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:

GEMINID METEOR SHOWER TONIGHT:

Tonight the annual Geminid meteor shower peaks, with the most likely time of maximum intensity being after midnight. The first quarter Moon will set shortly after midnight so there will be little interference from its light. Gemini itself will be rising in the east at about 9pm. Over the past few years the intensity of this shower has been increasing, and it is likely that it will put on a better show than the summer Perseids .

The Geminid shower was first seen only 150 years ago, and it is thought that they are the only meteor shower whose parent body is an asteroid, 3200 Phaethon, rather than a comet. Under good viewing conditions it might be possible to see 120- 160 meteors per minute. For more on this event see this article from wikipedia or, for the more technically minded see the International Meteor Organization Calender. The Astronomy Calender also has a multi-year listing for important sky events. Don't miss the upcoming lunar eclipse on the 21st, the longest night of the year.

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:
THE BLUE MOON THAT ENDS THE DECADE:
Tonight, as the decade ends, we will have the unusual event of a "blue moon" to ring out the old year. The term doesn't actually refer to the moon appearing blue in colour, though this can occur given certain atmospheric conditions. If there is sufficient dust in the air then light of a longer wavelength, ie red, is scattered away from the eyes of the observer, and the light that gets through is shifted to the blue end of the spectrum. this sort of lunar colouration was most prominent after the explosion of Krakatoa in 1883, but it also occurred in the 1950s after large forest fires in Canada and Sweden. It was also reported after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991, and there were even reports of "blue suns" in that year (see here). I do not recall it being so, and neither do I recall any change in the colour of the Moon after this year's extensive forest fires in BC. I do recall being able to spot the atmospheric haze after the eruption at Mount St. Helen's in 1980. Does anyone else have any memories or references ?

The origin of the phrase "blue moon" event goes as far back as 1528 when it was used in an anti-clerical English pamphlet entitled "Rede Me and Be Not Wrothe" where the author mocks the clergy saying that, if they declared the moon to be blue then they would expect others to believe it. The use of the term to describe a rare event, as in "once in a blue Moon", dates from 1824 (see here). There is some dispute about the origin of the term in relation to an "extra moon". Some say that the Old Farmer's Almanac began to use the term to refer to an extra full moon in a season in the 1800s, while others claim that the Farmers' Almanac didn't begin using the term this way until the 1930s. In any case the usage of the term as referring to two full moons in a month is of even more recent vintage. It's generally accepted that this way of using the phrase began in 1946 when a writer for Sky and Telescope Magazine misinterpreted the Farmers' Almanac rule of an extra moon in a season as being an extra moon in a month. For more on the history of the term see the Wikipedia article on blue moons.




Today's (tonight's) blue Moon takes place at 19:13 UT. Here in the Central time Zone this translates as 13:13. We obviously can't observe the exact instant of the Moon's fullness here in Manitoba at a little after 1:00 in the afternoon. In Australia and East Asia the event doesn't actually occur until tomorrow, January 1, and it is January rather than December that will have a 'blue Moon' there. The actual "blue Moon" will, however, be the second full Moon of January, not the first. The time of an "exact" full Moon is, of course, an instant rather than a night in duration. If you wish to find the exact time of the full moon and to convert it to your own local time consult the Time and Date.Com site where there is a wealth of other information such as sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset data. For those who would like a visual representation of the Moon's phases I could suggest the Moon Phase Calender at the Moon Connection site. A "blue Moon" in the sense of a second full Moon in a month occurs about once every 2.72 years.




There is also a partial eclipse of the Moon visible in Australia, Asia, Europe and Africa tonight, though it is not visible in the western hemisphere. This event has already passed , as maximum totality happened at 19;23 UT.



For those interested in matters lunar a couple of years ago Molly featured a series of articles that were a "leisurely cruise" through the various most prominent visible features of the Moon. If you're interested just type the item that you might want to read about (such as 'Mare Criseum', sea of Tranquility, etc..) in the search function of this blog and read all about it. See you in the New Year. It's been an interesting year and an interesting decade.

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:

TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE WINNIPEG: ENTRY NUMBER 8:

Just as a little sign-off here...It's now about 12:35 am on the morning of February 21. The eclipse is long over, and Saturn and Regulus are now in their "proper" places as per the references I quoted before. Saturn is above and to the left of the Moon. Regulus is to the right and above. I guess that the references didn't take take account of the time and merely quoted the position at midnight. Well, that's one mystery solved. Time to sign off for the night. sweet dreams to all... Molly.

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:

TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE IN WINNIPEG: ENTRY NUMBER 7:

It is now 11:21 pm, and the eclipse is now over here in Winnipeg. I obtained a few pictures of the latter part of the partial eclipse, but I doubt their quality. All told it was a far better eclipse, despite the temperatures, than either of the two that we experienced in 2007 (see out archives). viewing conditions were much better. I particluarily enjoyed the early and late phases of the partyial eclipse. Molly has settled on calling the eclipse as sonewhere between L2 and L3 on the Danjon Scale. What do others, particularily readers here in Winnipeg, think ? I'd be very interested in hearing your opinion.

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:

PYTHAGOAS AND THE ROUND EARTH; "ECLIPSOID FACTOID":

One of the legends of popular culture is that prior to Columbus most European people believed in a "flat Earth". In actual fact almost all educated people from antiquity on knew very well that the Earth was spherical. This belief is often atributed to the philosopher and mathematical Pythgagoras, orginator of the 'Pythagoran theorum' (a squared plus b squared equals c squared in a right angle triangle), the bane of all of us who had to endure the usual Catholic education that included geometry. Try and prove it, rather than memorize it. Pythagoras is also often credited with "proving" that the Earth is round by observing the shape of the shadow of the Earth on the Moon during a lunar eclipse. This is pretty much apocryphal as whatever reports of Pythagoras' reasonings that have survived (none of the original writings have) says that he "proved" the Earth's spherical shape by merely "reasoning" that a sphere was a more "perfect shape". It was Aristotle who later refined the reasoning of the shape of the Earth's shadow on the Moon(amongst his other reasons for assuming a spherical Earth) to prove that the Earth was a sphere rather than a simple circular disc. The "perfection of the sphere" was part and parcel of the later geocentric system devised by Ptolemy, a model that lasted until Copernicus and Galileo when it was replaced by a heliocentric model. Aristotle was more the originator (and certainly the refiner) of the proof of a spherical Earth than Pythagoras ever was. It is a popular myth that Europeans before Columbus, or at least those who were educated, believed in a "flat Earth".

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:

WINNIPEG TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE: ENTRY 6:

It's now 9:57 pm and totality has ended. The brighter edge of the Moon has shifted from the right hand side downwards and to the left. It gives me some doubt about whether this is an L2 or L3 eclipse. As we get further into the partial eclipse I will try and take some pictures, even though I have little faith in my camera. We'll see what happens. The partial eclipse will end at 11:08 pm tonight as the bright light of the Moon gradually grows across nthe left hand side.

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:

TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE IN WINNIPEG: ENTRY 5:

Molly is presently defrosting from being outside for many minutes watching the eclipse during the time of mid-totality. This one looks like a definite L2 to bothy me and the wife. Please see previous posts on this subject for reporting your own observations to either Sky and Telescope Magazine or to Dr. richard keen. The only problem I have with assigning a level to the eclipse is the asymetry to the brighter regions of the Moon. So far the right hand side is considerably brighter than the left. The colour is obvious, and considerably darker than what I have heard predicted on the radio. Also, as a correction to what I have posted here before Saturn is considerably below the Moon in the sky. At totality it was quite bright. Regulus almost directly above the Moon, and only a little bit to the right. I don't know what was wrong with the references that I posted before. As I end this blog it is about 6 minutes to the end of totality. I'll be out there observing again at that time, and I'll try to get some photos, though I have little faith in the quality nof my camera.

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:

LUNAR ECLIPSE IN WINNIPEG: ENTRY 4:

As I begin to write this at 9;13 pm we are well into totality (which peaks 9:26). The Moon appears a very obvious L2 to me right now. I still cannot see any of the other stars of Leo besides Regulus, but because I am observing this from the middle of a city where the Moon is situated "right beside" the full light of a street lamp (the position I have to get to to see it properly) this is not unexpected. the wife is argueing with me about where the Moon sits on the Danjon scale, but she's outside right now with the binoculars so we'll see. Ooops she just came in and finally agreed with me. She also claimed "squatters' rights" on the binoculars. Well, the temperature is such that both of us are unlikely to be outside at the same time, at least for very long. Brrrrrrr.

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:

LUNAR ECLIPSE IN WINNIPEG: ENTRY 3:

Almost totality. Three more minutes to go. The Moon presently seems to be at L2 on the Danjon Scale. The windchill is now -41 below. Cold beyond belief, but the sight is well worth it if you can get in in short bursts.

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:

PROGRESS OF THE TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE IN WINNIPEG: ENTRY 2:

It is now about 8:38 pm here in Winnipeg, and the eclipse has progressed so far as to begin to obscure the Seas of Tranquility and Serenity on the right hand side of the Moon. the graphic on the left, by the way, is of when the eclipse is almost over. presently darkness is proceeding from the lower left corner of the Moon. Both Saturn and Regulus are presently much more prominant than they were before. I still cannot see the other stars of Leo. Understandable given as I am watching the eclipse from the middle of the city, ducking out into a windchill of -38 with benefit of toque but little else. The plastic straps of my binoculars become stiff outside within seconds. The radio informs me that the Royal Astronomical Society here in Winnipeg have set up a telescope down at the Forks, as they often do for major sky events. I don't think they'll have much of a turnout at temperatures like this, especially if you have to run major distances to get warm again. I hope for the sake of all my fellow sky buffs that they have a short and clear run to warmth.

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:

THE LUNAR ECLIPSE IN WINNIPEG:

This is a more or less "live blog" of the progress of the lunar eclipse here in Winnipeg. As predicted earlier today the viewing conditions are, in my opinion, excellent. At about 6:45 pm I could see a cloud bank way off in the west, but it is unlikely to get anywhere near east enough to interfer with viewing tonight. As I write this (8:20 pm) the partial eclipse has so far covered about 50% of the Moon's surface, and it now entirely covers the Oceanus Procellarum (search this blog under 'Moon' for descriptions of various major lunar

features). There are about 38 minutes left to go until totality begins. It is still too early to judge how this eclipse will come out on the Danjon Scale, but what I see so far makes me hazard a guess that it will come out as either L2 or L3 (see previous "lunar eclipse" posts for an aexplnation of this scale).

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:

LUNAR ECLIPSE TONIGHT: VIEWING CONDITIONS IN WINNIPEG:

Less than 12 hours to go until the lunar eclipse. See yesterday's post for the times and our archives for this month and last for more information. The viewing conditions tonight promise to be good despite an extreme windchill of -41 (actual low -28). According to the Environment Canada weather office there will only be a few clouds. The Clear Dark Sky website predicts better conditions than they did yesterday. According to that site there will be no cloud cover until about 11 pm. That will probably come from the west, and thgus it shouldn't interfer with the eclipse. The transparency will be above average, and the general "seeing" will be average. Happy viewing. More later tonight.

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:

LUNAR ECLIPSE FEBRUARY 20: ONE MORE DAY TO GO:

As has been previously mentioned, the last total eclipse of the Moon visible from North America until 2010 will be coming up tomorrow night. Here in Central Standard Time the partial eclipse will begin at 19:43, the total eclipse will begin at 21:01 and end at 21:50, and the partial eclipse will end at 23:08. See previous posts on this blog in our archives for January and February of this year (search 'Lunar eclipse') for more on the timing and how to convert to your own time zone.

VIEWING CONDITIONS:

The Environment Canada weather office site predicts clear conditions for tomorrow and the day after. You can check the general weather forecast for your area from this source if you live in Canada. For a more detailed forecast look to the Clear Dark Sky site. Molly has added a widgit of this site for the Winnipeg area near the bottom of our Links section. It is the strange looking hatched coloured bar. This forecast, much more detailed than that from Environment Canada, unfortunately predicts less than ideal viewing conditions here in Winnipeg tomorrow night. Up to 60% cloud cover (one hopes mainly in the West) and "poor" "seeing conditions". We'll just have to wait and see, no pun intended. I'll update the forecast tomorrow. The Clear Dark Sky site provides detailed atmospheric forecasts for many dozens of sites across the North American continent, not just Canada.

OTHER THINGS TO WATCH FOR:

There are a few other things to look for during the upcoming eclipse. I have already mentioned that the planet Saturn will be prominent above and to the left of the Moon during the eclipse period tomorrow. On the other side, to the right, will be the star Regulus. This is the most prominent star in the constellation of Leo (see this blog for May 13, 2007 for a discussion of 'The Constellation Leo')., and it forms the base of the "sickle" that defines the head of the lion that is Leo. it is the 21st brightest star in the sky, at an apparent magnitude of 1.35. During this eclipse Saturn and Regulus will bracket the Moon. Because it is positioned on the ecliptic Regulus is routinely occulted by the Moon, and rarely by other planets. There will be three occultations of Regulus this year, on February 21, March 19 and April 15. All of them, however, will only be visible from parts of the southern hemisphere. If you have an interest in occulatations Molly advises you to look up the International Occulation Timing Association website. There's a wealth of information there. For other interesting astronomical events in the upcoming week tune in to the Weekly Stargazing Tips on Star Date Online. The Leonid Meteor showers, by the way, are sometimes the most dramatic of the meteor showers in a year. This year they are due on the morning of November 17.

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:

TWO MORE DAYS UNTIL THE LUNAR ECLIPSE:

It's only two more days to go until the one and only lunar total lunar eclipse of 2008 visible from North America. There won't be another total eclipse visible from our area until 2010.

VIEWING CONDITIONS:

So far the viewing conditions look quite good. as the time draws closer I urge readers to consult the Clear Dark Sky Website for viewing conditions in their locality. So far they only give projected conditions up until the early hours of Wednesday. The Clear Dark Sky site covers the entire continent of North America, and gives much more detailed and precise information than you will get on the usual weather report. For the weather report here in Canada you are best to consult the Environment Canada site. this forecast goes a little bit further out on a limb than the CDS site is willing to, but it is less detailed than the former (for viewing conditions) and only covers Canada. From what I see on their satellite mpa predictions Wednesday evening here in Winnipeg will have a gradually increasing cloud cover but will be fairly clear in the early hours of the eclipse. Well, we all know not to put too much faith in such projections. Consult both this site and the CDS one closer to the actual event.

A LITTLE BONUS

When the eclipse occurs you will be treated to an additional bonus. The planet Saturn, which spends the month of February in the constellation Leo, will be about a close 3.5 degrees above and to the left of the eclipsed Moon (as seen from North America) at mid-totality (3:26 UT, 21:26 CST) . As the Moon moves through the various parts of the eclipse you will see it changing its position vis-a-vis Saturn. You will also see the apparent brightness of Saturn increase as the light of the Moon fades during the eclipse, and decrease again as the Moon becomes more visible as the eclipse recedes. Saturn's point of opposition will occur on February 24, but its greatest brilliance (magnitude +0.2) has already occured on February 16. The difference between this and the present magnitude will be insignificant. Saturn will end its retrograde motion on March 2. The present tilt of Saturn's rings is about -8.4 degrees as seen from Earth. they are thus not optimally oriented for viewing, but are still visible. See if there is any difference in their visibility in mid-totality as compared to full Moonlight.

THE TIMING OF THE ECLIPSE ONCE MORE

Molly has previously given the times of the various parts of the eclipse in both Universal Time (UT) and here in Winnipeg in Central Standard Time (CST), but this obviously bears repeating. See below. Conversion to your local times can be done by consulting the Time and Date website. Pretty well all of the western hemisphere will be able to view all the parts of the eclipse (though the Moon will rise on the west coast partially eclipsed already).The Time and Date website also gives the times of Moonrise and Moonset. So here are the times once more, in UT and CST.

*Penumbral eclipse begins: 00:36 UT, February 21/19:43 CST, February 20.

*Partial eclipse begins: 1:43 UT, February 21/19:43 CST, February 20.

*Total eclipse begins: 3:01 UT, February 21/21:01 CST, February 20.

*Maximum totality: 3:26 UT, February 21/21:26 CST, February 20.

*Total eclipse ends: 3:50 UT, February 21/21:50 CST, February 20.

*Partial eclipse ends: 5:08 UT, February 21/23:08 CST, February 20.

*Penumbral eclipse ends: 6:15 UT, February 21/00:15 CST, February 21.

LOCAL EVENTS:

DOWN AT THE DRAG: UNDERNEATH THE FRAY:

Coming this Wednesday, February 20 down at the Mondragon, 91 Albert St,, Winnipeg's local infoshop and coffee house: Underneath the Fray, an acoustic folk band, suitable for all of us who can no longer take loud electonica. Times 19:05 to 21:00. Hey, zipper out the door real quick, and you can catch the beginning of totality during this night's total eclipse of the Moon (begins at 21:01). Run real quick to get away from the concrete canyons so you can see the view up in the east.

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:

THE LUNAR ECLIPSE: HOW DARK WILL IT BE ?

As Molly has blogged here before (see our archives for January 2008) there will be a lunar eclipse on the evening of February 20th (in Europe it will occur in the wee hours of the 21st- see the blog here on January 1st for the times of the various parts of the eclipse as per UT and CST-also how to convert for your own time zone). This will be the last total lunar eclipse visible here in North America until December 20-21 of 2010, though a partial eclipse will occur on December 31, 2009. Last chance for almost 3 years. Get your ticket now !

One of the big questions surrounding any eclipse is "how dark will it be ?". Most of North America will be able to view at least totality, and there is always a great interest in exactly how dark the Moon will be at this time. At mid-totality the darkness of the sky allows you to view many stars that are otherwise obscured by the Moon's light. The darkness of an eclipse has been summed up in what has become known as the Danjon Scale. This was originally formulated by the French astronomer André Louis Danjon, and it gives the darkness of the Moon in terms of a parameter called "L" (for luminosité). The stages of the Danjon Scale are as follows, from darkest to brightest.

L= 0 Very dark eclipse. Moon almost invisible at mid-totality.

L= 1 Dark eclipse. Grey or bown colour. Lunar details only visible with difficulty.

L= 2 Deep red or rust-coloured eclipse with a very dark central part in the shadown and the outer edges of the umbra relatively bright.

L= 3 Brick red eclipse with a bright or yellow rim to the shadow.

L= 4 Very bright copper-red or orange eclipsed with a blueish very bright shadow rim.

The Danjon Scale is, of course, subjective, and different viewers may give totally different interpretations of the scale. Different parts of the Moon may also appear to be at different values. How the eclipse will present depends very much on current atmopsheric conditions at the time of the eclipse. The reddish hue that is seen during some eclipses is due to refraction, just as the reddish tint to dawn and dusk is. Generally the larger the amount of particulate dust in the atmosphere the darker the eclipse will seem. The red light that gives the Moon its colour at this time actually comes from the refracted sunlight of dawn and dusk on the Earth via Moonshine. Some folks are interested in hearing about reports of your observations of the Danjon scale in your locality. You can report your observations to Sky and Telescope Magazine or to Richrad Keen at richardkeen@colorado.edu . Wtite it down after the event and send your observations to them. Sky and Telescope also has a great number of useful tools for amateur astronomy, including an almanac of celestial events. Explore the site for more info.

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:

TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE FEB 20: WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SEE IT ?

As mentioned before on this blog there will be a total eclipse of the Moon on February 20 (8 more days to go). Will you be able to see it ? Look at the map above. The darkened area is the area of the Earth from which the full time of totality will be observable. The pink are on the right signifies areas where only the end of the total eclipse will be seen, and the blue area on the left is where only the end will be seen. The cross almost due south from Winnipeg is where the Moon will be at its zenith at the time of mid-totality. Please see our previous entry on this blog for the times of the various parts of th eclipse.

If you are interested in things "eclipsism" have a look at the following links for information on eclipses in general:

NASA's Eclipse Home Page

Hermit Eclipse

Mr. Eclipse.Com

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:
THE MOONS OF 2008:
Welcome to the "Full Wolf Moon'. That's the name of tonight's full Moon. Well not exactly, because the exact time of this, the first full Moon of 2008, was at 7:35 am CST (8:35 am EST/1:35 pm UT)this morning. Still the Moon tonight is for all intents and purposes "full". Each of the full Moons of the year has traditional names. Most are from eastern Algonquin language group native tribes, but some are from the early European settlers. The following is a list of the Moons of 2008, arranged by date. Exact times are given in CST/EDT and UT in the first and last parts of the year and in CDT/EDT and UT when daylight savings time applies. To convert from these times to your own time zone see the Time and Date website. For an extensive guide to things lunar, including all the phases of the Moon, and prominent lunar features as well as an on-line lunar map see Space.Com's Moon Guide.
1)Jan 22 (7:35am CST/8:35am EST/1:35pm UT): The Full Wolf Moon was, of course, named for the hungry wolves that roamed outside of native villages in the depths of winter. Some tribes called this the 'Full Snow Moon', though most applied this name to the following full Moon. Europeans called this the 'Old Moon' or the 'Moon After Yule'.
2)Feb. 20(9:30pm CST/10:30pm EST/3:30am Feb 21 UT). Known as the 'Full Snow Moon, this was the ,month when snow was usually the heaviest in eastern North America. Because of the snow hunting becomes difficult, and some tribes referred to this full Moon as the 'Full Hunger Moon'. As Molly mentioned earlier on this blog this will be the night of a full lunar eclipse. Stay tuned for more details.
3)March 21 (1:40 pm CDT/2:40pm EDT/7:40pm UT). In the east of North America (though not here in Winnipeg) this is the month when the ground begins to thaw and the first earthworms appear. Hence the name the 'Full Worm Moon'. In the northern parts of the east the tribes knew this as the 'Full Crow Moon' when the crows begin to put up an increasing racket as spring approaches. It was also know as the 'Full Crust Moon' for the way that the freezing and thawing cycle gives a extra "crustiness" to the surface of the snow. Yet another name is the 'Full Sap Moon' when the temperatures and the freeze/thaw cycle makes it possible to begin tapping maple trees for sap.
Last year's first lunar eclipse happened on this Moon, on March 3rd. In Christian chronology this is also the Paschal Full Moon(the first full Moon of spring). Easter is dated as the first Sunday following the Paschal Moon, and this year this will fall on March 23rd. This will be the earliest Easter since 1913. Last year Easter was on April 8th.
4)April 20 (5:25am CDT/6:25am EDT/11:25 UT) This is known as the Full Pink Moon, from the colour of ground phlox, one of the earliest wildflowers in eastern North America. There are a number of other native names for this Moon, the 'Full Sprouting Grass Moon', the "Egg Moon" and, in coastal areas, the 'Full Fish Moon' when fish return to the rivers to spawn.
5)May 19 (8:11pm CDT/9:11pm EDT/2:11am May 20 UT) This is known as the 'Full Flower Moon' for obvious reasons. It was also called the 'Full Corn Planting Moon' and the 'Milk Moon'. The Moon will come to its apogee a mere 12 hours after the time of this full Moon, and thus this will seem to be the apparently smallest full Moon of the year (about 12.3% smaller than the largest, that of December 12).
6)June 18 (12:30pm CDT/1:30pm EDT/6:30pm UT). The 'Full Strawberry Moon'. Known to the Europeans as the 'Rose Moon'.
7)July 18 (2:59am CDT/3:59am EDT/8:59am UT) This is the approximate time when the first antlers begin to appear on male deers in the east. Also know as the 'Full Thunder Moon' because of the frequency of thunderstorms this time of year. Called the 'Full hay Moon' by some Europeans.
8)August 16 (4:16pm CDT/5:16pm EDT/10:16pm UT) Called the 'Full Sturgeon Moon' by tribes living near major bodies of water because this i9s the time of year when fishing for this species is the best. Also known as the 'Full red Moon' because evening haze often gives a reddish tone to the rising Moon this time of year. Other names include the 'Green Corn Moon' and the 'Grain Moon'. This Moon will have a partial lunar eclipse this year, visible from Europe, Africa and western Asia. Last year there was a second total lunar eclipse on August 28th, visible in the western part of North America.
9)Sept. 15 (4:13am CDT/5:13am EDT/10:13am UT). This will be this year's 'Harvest Moon'. this title is given to the full Moon that occurs closest to the Autumnal Equinox. Usually the Moon rises about 50 minutes later each night, but near the equinoxes it only rises 25 to 30 minutes later in the USA and 10 to 20 minutes in Canada. This means that there is extra moonlight to work on the harvest on several days near to this full Moon.
10)Oct. 14 (3:02 pm CDT/4:02pm EDT/9:02pm UT). This is known as the 'Full Hunters' Moon'. As the leaves are shed and grass begins to wilt prey animals can be seen and tracked more easily.In addition many animals have fattened up for the winter. Thus the best time of the year to hunt.
11)Nov. 13 (12:17am CST/1:17am EST/6:17am UT) The 'Full Beaver Moon' was traditionally a good time to trap beaver before water bodies froze for the winter. Beavers at this time of year are particularly active in making final preparations for winter. This full Moon has also been called the "Frosty Moon'.
12)Dec. 12 (10:37am CST/11:37 EST/4:37 UT). Some tribes called this the 'Full Cold Moon' and others called it the 'Full Long Nights Moon'. the reasons for both names are obvious. Europeans often referred to it as the 'Moon Before Yule'. On this day at 10:00pm UT the Moon will be at perigee (its closest approach to the Earth), and thus this will appear as the apparently largest full Moon of the year.
Sorry folks, no Blue Moon this year.

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY:

TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE DUE THIS FEBRUARY 20TH:

Another full lunar eclipse is due to happen this February 20th and 21st. The diagram on the left gives the timing of the event from the viewpoint of Eastern Standard Time. See below for the times as per Universal Time (UT) and Central Standard Time (CST) here in Winnipeg. If you live in other time zones consult the Time and Date website to convert these times to your local time. That site also gives times for Moonrise, Moonset and Sunrise and Sunset.

Penumbral eclipse begins 00:36 UT, February 21/18:36 CST, February 20

Partial eclipse begins 1:43 UT February 21/19:43 CST, February 20

Total eclipse begins 3:01 UT, February 21/21:01 CST, February 20

Maximum totality 3:26 UT, February 21/ 21:26 CST, February 20

Total eclipse ends 3:50 UT, February 21/21:50 CST, February 20

Partial eclipse ends 5:08 UT, February 21/23:08 CST, February 20

Penumbral eclipse ends 6:15 UT, February 21/00:15 CST, February 21

Watch this site for more details as the event draws closer.