Two Weeks to the Lunar Eclipse

By Tom Bridge
February 6th, 2008 @ 12:52 PM The Great Outdoors

One of our readers wrote in the other day to ask about spots to view the upcoming lunar eclipse on February 20th:

It’d be great to solicit some suggestions on the best places to view February’s total lunar eclipse - I missed the August one so this will be the first one I’ll be in town for, and would love to find a nice, clear (noise-pollution free!) area to view from.

So, what say you? All those roof-top decks in DC? The Washington Monument? A field out in Fairfax or upper Montgomery County?

Where are you going to see the red moon?

11 Comments so far

  1. C Me Ride joint (unregistered) on February 6th, 2008 @ 1:41 pm

    al gore say global warmin getin worse because the rate of green gas and ozone aint right cant wait2 c dat lunar eclipse she like her dat bitch talk 2 much but fuk em aint mad at cha n peep 2: the atlantic ocean is risin 2
    but int gore 2 say its the start of a new ice age
    IDK wut u think ..wut do i think..IDK-N

  2. Tom Bridge (unregistered) on February 6th, 2008 @ 1:54 pm

    Days like this are days when I weep for our schools.

  3. Joseph J. Finn (unregistered) on February 6th, 2008 @ 1:59 pm

    Also, here is the NASA website for the eclipse, noting the beginning and start times for both the penumbra and umbra (8:43 PM EST is the start time for the penumbra). Looks like everyone east of far-western Texas will get to see the whole thing.

  4. Jenn L (unregistered) on February 6th, 2008 @ 1:59 pm

    Wait, so what’s the date of the eclipse??

  5. Tom Bridge (unregistered) on February 6th, 2008 @ 2:01 pm

    Thanks Joe and Jenn, I’ve updated the entry.

  6. Ben R (unregistered) on February 6th, 2008 @ 3:41 pm

    I’d say a field past Manassas at least; Front Royal or farther west would be ideal. You’d get a crisp sky with minimal light pollution which is perfect for lunar photography.

    If you just want to ’see’ it, then I’d suggest somewhere at least 15-20 miles in any direction from the DC core to avoid noise pollution.

  7. Darling girlfriend (unregistered) on February 6th, 2008 @ 5:09 pm

    I suggest the parking lot of Wolf Trap - http://www.wolf-trap.org/services/directions.html

  8. MattF (unregistered) on February 7th, 2008 @ 8:39 am

    There was a total lunar eclipse a few years ago that I watched from the corner of Bethesda & Woodmont. Much more fun that watching it by yourself out in the middle of a parking lot out in the middle of nowheres– I got to explain to people how the dragon eats the moon and then, um, excretes it.

  9. Don (unregistered) on February 7th, 2008 @ 10:44 am

    Coincidentally, the 20th is the open house night for the University of Maryland observatory.

  10. Darling girlfriend (unregistered) on February 7th, 2008 @ 6:41 pm

    Perhaps I should have been more clear … I suggest a convertible with seat heaters, a really big, warm blanket, a thermos of hot cocoa or coffee (maybe you spike it, maybe you don’t), someone you like spending a lot of time with UNDER a blanket, AND the parking lot of Wolf Trap. That’s fun, and hopefully excrement never enters the picture.

  11. MattF (unregistered) on February 8th, 2008 @ 8:48 am

    Hey, Darling– what you’re describing sounds heavenly. The planets, after all, only do what they may– we do as we please.


Terms of use | Privacy Policy | Content: Creative Commons | Site and Design © 2008 | Metroblogging ® and Metblogs ® are registered trademarks of Bode Media, Inc.