Misinformation Correction!

[elfs]

I have heard now from at least two people that Monday night is to be the last lunar eclipse to be visible from the North American Continent for the next four centuries or so. That sounded quite incorrect to me, given that there has been at least one lunar eclipse every few years of my life since I was old enough to go out and watch them; they're about as reliable as the Leonid meteor showers.

The next one visible after that in the North American continent is October 8th, 2014. A partial lunar eclipse happening during moonset will also be visible on December 10, 2011. A full list of lunar eclipses for the coming decade can be found at the NASA Eclipse 2011-2020 Calendar.

Comments

[mouser.livejournal.com]

I think I hear that during EVERY Lunar eclipse.

[sirfox.livejournal.com]

Mayhap they're referring to it happening during a solstice? Just guessing.

It might be fluff crap that goes around every time an eclipse crops up is equally possible.

[kistha.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's the every 400 year or so. Pretty cool!

[gromm.livejournal.com]

Last I checked, this lunar-eclipse-on-the-solstice happened last about 435 years ago.

[darrelx.livejournal.com]

Not misinformation, just INCOMPLETE information.

The next Lunar Eclipse *on the Winter Solstice* won't be for another 4 centuries.

[darrelx.livejournal.com]

Update with official info:

Geoff Chester of the US Naval Observatory inspected a list of eclipses going back 2000 years.

"Since Year 1, I can only find one previous instance of an eclipse matching the same calendar date as the solstice, and that is December 21, 1638," says Chester. "Fortunately we won't have to wait 372 years for the next one...that will be on December 21, 2094."

:-)

[(Anonymous)]

Make sure to look at the moon tonight!

Tonight is the last night you'll be able to see the moon for the next 2400 years! It's that Mayan end of the world calendar thing!

A giant jaguar is going to eat the moon tonight *and it ain't coming back anytime soon*!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_candide_/]

No, no I think the people who are saying this to elf actually do believe that this will be the last lunar eclipse for 400 years. The level of scientific illiteracy in the U.S. really is that high.