ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, September 24, 1996 TAG: 9609240033
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURA Z. RAUCH
The Science Museum of Western Virginia and Hopkins Planetarium will help sky gazers focus on the total eclipse of the moon Thursday night at Blue Ridge Park.
The total eclipse, the last before 2000, will begin at 8:12 p.m., as the full harvest moon begins moving into the shadow of the Earth.
"The full moon rises when the sun sets," said Britt Rossie, planetarium director and amateur astronomer. As it moves into the shadow, "it will turn red most likely, or it will turn dark." The view, he said, will depend on the amount of pollution in the Earth's atmosphere, as well as local and regional weather conditions.
Totality, or when the moon is fully shaded, will occur at 10:19 p.m.
Because the moon's light will dim significantly, onlookers may also get favorable views of other celestial objects, including Saturn and Jupiter.
Rossie; volunteers from the Roanoke Valley Astronomical Society; and Gary Close, planetarium educator, will gather Thursday around dusk near the baseball diamond at the park on Webster Road in Blue Ridge. They will point out constellations and planets and give views through the planetarium's high-resolution planetary telescope and night-vision goggles.
Those attending should bring blankets or lawn chairs, binoculars and warm clothing.
For more information, call 342-5714.
To reach Blue Ridge Park from Roanoke, travel east on U.S. 460 for about 10 miles, turn right onto Webster Road, travel about one mile and then turn left into the park.
LENGTH: Short : 37 linesby CNB