The Western Connecticut State University Westside Observatory will hold a special public viewing of the total eclipse of the full Harvest Moon from 9 p.m. to midnight on Sunday, Sept. 27, on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury.
The WCSU Observatory public night will provide an opportunity for telescope viewing of the moon’s entire passage through the inner, darker umbral shadow of the Earth to reach total eclipse, from its beginning at 10:11 p.m. to its conclusion at 11:23 p.m. The eclipse will reach its totality at 10:47 p.m.
The Westside Observatory, located atop a hill on Western's Westside campus, offers viewings through a 20-inch, computer-controlled Ritchey-Chretien reflector telescope.
Admission to the three-hour public session will be free. Limited parking is provided adjacent to the observatory, with additional parking available on University Boulevard.
The full duration of the lunar eclipse, including the visible dimming of the full moon’s brightness during the initial and closing passages through the Earth’s weak outer penumbral shadow, will extend from 8:12 p.m. on Sept. 27 to 1:22 a.m. on Sept. 28.
Professor of Astronomy Dr. Dennis Dawson said in the WCSU Observatory “Star Watch” online posting that this eclipse will be all the more impressive because it will occur as the moon reaches its closest distance to the Earth, or perigee. This phenomenon will produce a rare “Super Moon” eclipse, which last occurred in 1982 and will not occur again until 2033. The lunar eclipse also will coincide with the Harvest Moon, the first full moon to take place after the autumn equinox.
“For this particular eclipse, the moon reaches perigee less than one hour before the eclipse,” Dawson said. “This coincidence will produce the largest full moon of the year, a ‘Super Moon’ that will raise very large ocean tides.
“Usually during a total lunar eclipse, the moon turns a coppery red because of sunlight bent through Earth’s atmosphere onto it,” he noted. “For this eclipse, the moon passes below the center of Earth’s umbra, so the upper portion of the moon should be a deeper red than the lower part.”
In addition to the Sept. 27 eclipse viewing, the WCSU Observatory will offer a series of Saturday evening planetarium shows and sky observations throughout the autumn. Admission will be free and the public is invited. WCSU Observatory public sky viewings are subject to cancellation in the event of cloud cover or inclement weather; planetarium shows will be canceled only due to severe weather or hazardous road conditions. Cancellation updates are available on the day of the event by calling (203) 837-8672.
- Sept. 19: The planetarium show will start at 6:30 p.m., with sky observation following from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Visible objects will include Saturn and the moon before reaching its first quarter.
- Oct. 10: The planetarium show will start at 6 p.m., with sky observation following from 7 to 9 p.m. Viewing will feature various summer and early autumn sky objects.
- Oct. 24: The planetarium show will start at 6 p.m., with sky observation following from 7 to 9 p.m. Visible objects will include the waxing gibbous moon.
- Nov. 7: The planetarium show will start at 4:30 p.m., with sky observation following from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Viewing will feature various autumn sky objects.
- Nov. 21: The planetarium show will start at 4:30 p.m., with sky observation following from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Visible objects will include the moon shortly after reaching its first quarter.
- Dec. 5: The planetarium show will start at 4:30 p.m., with sky observation following from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Viewing will feature autumn and early winter sky objects.
- Dec. 19: The planetarium show will start at 4:30 p.m., with sky observation following from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Visible objects will include the moon shortly after reaching its first quarter.
For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.