Europe set for prime-time eclipse

Hue moon: A pink-tinged lunar eclipse in 1993

By Gaven Morris, CNN.com Europe writer

LONDON, England -- Europe is set for the best view of a total lunar eclipse on Tuesday if winter storms and rain clear in time.

Due at 1842 GMT, the full effect of the eclipse should last for more than an hour allowing astronomers and even naked-eye viewers an eerie display of earth's shadow cast across the moon.

Meteorologists are predicting clear skies in central and southern Europe and in the north, Scotland has the best chance of an unimpeded view but the rest of Britain, Scandinavia, northern France and Germany and the low countries are likely to miss out.

"Much of Europe will be under clouds as a series of systems roll over the region but the more south the better the chance of a view," Joseph Marcoux in the CNN weather centre said.

"The best place for viewing will be along the Mediterranean coast."

Africa is also expected to be in a prime position and time zone to see what will appear as a dim moon, tinged red.

"With the earth's atmosphere quite clear at the moment, those with a good view will see the moon brick-red, perhaps with a tinge of blue," Dr Robert Massey of Britain's Royal Observatory at Greenwich, said.

The red colour occurs because the light of the sun is reflected through the earth's atmosphere creating a similar effect to a sunrise or sunset, Massey said.

The observatory is planning a special opening for the cosmic display with telescopes available to the public and astronomers on hand to provide an account.

Unlike a solar eclipse -- where the view of the sun is blocked by the moon -- there is no risk in looking directly at the lunar eclipse.

Tuesday's show is likely to be the best astronomical spectacle for 2001 except for in southern Africa, where a solar eclipse is expected in June.

For those within sight, the entire eclipse will last for a little over three hours, Massey said.

"Solar eclipses last only a few minutes so this lunar event will provide people with a much better opportunity to get a view."

The next total lunar eclipse is expected to be seen in Europe in November 2003.

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CNN Weather

NASA
Royal Observatory Greenwich

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