Star Points for March, 2007; by Curtis Roelle 2007's Lunar Eclipses and an Upcoming Shuttle Launch Did you have a chance to see last night's total lunar eclipse, the first one visible from anywhere on earth since October 2004? The was already totally eclipsed when it rose. Since lunar eclipses always occur at full moon, the moon was rising just as the sun was setting in our area. See the StarPoints web site for an image of the spectacle. The totally eclipsed moon is usually an orange-ish copper color. The color depends on the clarity of earth's atmosphere. If there is unusual amounts of dust in the atmosphere, say from volcanic activity, the moon can become very dark and nearly invisible. Volcanic aerosols disperse around the world following a major eruption. The dust may cause fainter stars to be blotted out at night and glorious sunsets to occur for months. I've observed two lunar eclipses during which the moon grew very dark. In 1982 following the eruption of Mexico's El Chichon the moon was invisible to the unaided eye and a very dim gray in my 6- inch reflecting telescope once totality began. I recall listening to classical music on a Baltimore FM station all throughout the eclipse. After totality began the announcer said "if you step outside now you can see a totally eclipsed moon." How ridiculous, I remember thinking. Why didn't he tell his listeners earlier so that they could enjoy the entire show, the shadow of the earth as it slowly creep across the lunar disc and the resultant dimming of the moon? By going out during mid- totality and not knowing where to look they probably couldn't even find the beshadowed moon and wouldn't see a thing. For any listener such a negative experience may have diminished any pre- existing interest they might have had in astronomy thanks to the tardy announcement. Ten years later in 1992 another dark lunar eclipse was caused by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. The moon did not darken as much as it did during the earlier eclipse and it remained visible to the unaided eye throughout. The next total lunar eclipse for us on Tuesday, August 28 will be just the opposite of what happened this month: The totally eclipsed moon will be setting as the sun rises. Check back here in August for the complete details on how and when to observe it! The space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to launch at 06:42 a.m. EDT on the morning of Thursday March 15 on mission STS-117. This mission was originally scheduled for October 2003 but was delayed following the loss of the Challenger orbiter, according to the spaceflightnow.com web site. STS-117 will pay an on-orbit visit to the International Space Station for delivery and installation of a new truss segment plus some solar arrays needed for power generation. Weather permitting the ascent should be visible low in the southeastern sky for observers in this area. For viewing information review the December, 2006 StarPoints in the web site archives. Are you going to today's (March 4) Maple Sugarin' Festival at Bear Branch Nature Center (BBNC)? If so, make a point to swing by the planetarium where the Westminster Astronomical Society's (WASI) Brian Eney will be giving free shows every hour on the half hour. Brian will also present a celestial program at the Bear Branch Nature Center (BBNC) planetarium at 07:30 p.m. Friday, March 23. Meanwhile outside, weather permitting, WASI will host a "star party" with telescopes. The star party is free and the planetarium program will be held rain or shine. For directions or planetarium reservations and pricing contact BBNC at 410-848-2517.