This event is still on, despite the iffy weather forecast.

The clouds are predicted to clear by 8pm, but cloud up again around 10pm, just when "totality" begins.  If you see the full moon low in the southeastern sky at 9:30pm come on over to the MIRA office.  Otherwise, stay cozy at home.  At least one event host should be outside the MIRA office by 9:30pm.  A tour of MIRA's local Weaver Student Observatory is offered until 10:30pm.

Join members of the MIRA Astronomy Club and the California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) Astronomy Club in the parking lot of The Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy ("MIRA") to view a total lunar eclipse.

Nothing formal here.  Just show up, watch the moon slip into the earth's shadow, meet with members of two local amateur astronomy clubs and professional astronomers from MIRA.

Telescopes are optional.  Tripod-mounted binoculars might be appropriate.  Or just show up.  Bring a beach chair and warm clothing.  Plenty of parking on the street.

Click here to confirm if you intend to participate.  And even if you do not join other club members at the MIRA office for this event, you can view the eclipse from anywhere in the United States, under clear skies.

What Causes a Lunar Eclipse?
A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon's orbit places the moon directly behind the earth during a full moon, when viewed from the sun.  The moon passes into the earth's shadow.  During eclipse totality, the moon's color changes to a deep red/orange.  This is due to the refraction of sunlight through the earth's atmosphere, with red wavelengths being refracted more than other wavelengths, thus bending around the earth to the moon.

The timing of the eclipse at the event location:

  Eclipse Stages             UTC Time          Local Time
1 Penumbral Eclipse begins   Mar 14 at 03:57   Mar 13 at 8:57pm
2 Partial Eclipse begins     Mar 14 at 05:09   Mar 13 at 10:09pm
3 Full Eclipse begins        Mar 14 at 06:26   Mar 13 at 11:26pm
4 Maximum Eclipse            Mar 14 at 06:58   Mar 13 at 11:58pm
5 Full Eclipse ends          Mar 14 at 07:31   Mar 14 at 12:31am
6 Partial Eclipse ends       Mar 14 at 08:47   Mar 14 at 1:47am
7 Penumbral Eclipse ends     Mar 14 at 10:00   Mar 14 at 3:00am