Monday, December 20, 2010

The Solstice gets Eclipsed

The shortest day of the year typically arrives with a minimum of fanfare; but for those of us who make a habit of watching the daily weather and skies, it is a welcome event, as it marks the jump off point for the return to another summer.  Nonetheless, we still  must endure the cold and snow of winter, those raw days of spring, before the summer solstice warms our spirits, yet again.

This solstice is going to be different though, as it will be accompanied by a lunar eclipse.  The last time a winter solstice was coupled with a lunar eclipse was in 1678.  Few of us were around for that celestial phenomenon, and likely, this will be the only time any of us will ever witness such a rare happening as well.

Hopefully, the star gazers out there will actually be able to view the eclipse, but if you can't, don't despair.  There will be another one in say, 3oo years.  How do you live long enough to "eclipse" that?  Enjoy!

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