International I Hate Sports Club

WOW! The year 2012 is really shaping up to be a rather interesting year.

First, I got to see the annular eclipse of the sun on Sunday, May 20,2012 but from where I was at, the sun had set just minutes before the complete ring of light would have been visible, but I did get to see the sun as a thin crescent just before it set.

Then, on June 5,2012 there will be a transit of Venus across the face of the sun.

I had posted about this in two previous topics.

And soon, on June 4,2012 there will be a partial eclipse of the moon.

Yeah! Three astronomical events within two weeks! Actually, within 15 days.

I did a Google search to find out when this will occur in my local time here in El Paso, Texas.

Time of Lunar Eclipse in El Paso, Texas on June 4,2012 (in local time)

Penumbral eclipse begins at 1:48 AM - visible

Partial Eclipse begins at 3:00 AM - visible

Mid (Maximum) Lunar Eclipse at 4:03 AM - visible

Partial Eclipse ends at 5:06 AM - not visible

Penumbral eclipse ends as 6:18 AM - not visible

Well, I will get to see most of the eclipse, but the moon will set before the eclipse is over.

And of course, it will only be a partial eclipse, so, the moon will only be about half-way covered by the dark copper brown shadow cast by the earth onto the moon during it's maximum phase.

So, it's really no big deal, compared to the total lunar eclipse I saw a couple of years ago when the entire moon was completely covered by the earth's shadow.

Oh well, there will be other eclipses to watch eventually.

Yes, 2012 is quite an active year in celestial events. The transit of Venus, from what I've been hearing, will attract around 10,000 people in downtown Cleveland at the Lake Erie shore, assuming clear enough skies. (I am a member of a smaller club that is planning a smaller event, in the hopes of avoiding huge crowds and parking headaches.)

Hopefully these events will spur an interest in astronomy, or just science in general, among younger people. I belong to several clubs (local Audubon Society chapter, astronomy club, men's book club, and coin-collecting club) and a recurring issue among all of them is "attracting younger members to our club/hobby". (I'm one of the youngest in each, and I'll be 42 this year! )

ChrisOH wrote: . . . . . and a recurring issue among all of them is "attracting younger members to our club/hobby". (I'm one of the youngest in each, and I'll be 42 this year! )

Yes, I know what you mean.

It's just a damn shame that more young people aren't as interested in joining a science club, or a book club.

All they care about is sports.

[UPDATE]

Here's an interesting little tidbit!

The full moon that will be seen on June 4th is known here in the USA as, The Strawberry Moon.

According to Native American folklore it's the Strawberry Moon, so-called because the short season for harvesting strawberries comes during the month of June.

Yeah! And the earth's shadow passing over the surface, will be taking a nice big bite out of the Strawberry Moon.

I just found out that the earth's shadow will only cover less than half of the moon, being that it's only going to be a partial eclipse.

Now, I have a craving for strawberries.

With whipped cream!

Well, then, have some ...

Earl wrote:Well, then, have some ...

Oh! I will!!! I will!!!

I'm going to have a bowl of strawberries with whipped cream on top while watching the partial eclipse of the moon!

You know, when I see close up photos of the moon with all those craters on the surface, I get a craving for slices of Swiss cheese!

And when I look at pictures on Io, one of the four Galilean moons of Jupiter, because of they yellow, orange, and red colors, and the dark spots, I get a craving for pepperoni pizza, because the surface of Io looks almost like a pizza!

Whoops! There I go, thinking of food again!