Sky watchers and observers of the lunar
system will
notice an extremely rare cosmic sight on Wednesday,
October
8, when a total lunar eclipse is expected to occur in
different
parts of the World.
The total eclipse of the moon will result in a clash
simultaneous rising of the sun in what scientists have
called
“selenelion,” a phenomenon that celestial geometry
says
cannot happen.
During the lunar eclipse, the sun and moon will be
exactly 180
degrees apart in the sky. In a perfect alignment like
this
(called a “syzygy”), such an observation would seem
impossible.
The images of both the sun and moon are expected to
be
lifted above the horizon by atmospheric refraction. This
will
allow people on Earth to see the sun for several extra
minutes
before it actually has risen and the moon for several
extra
minutes after it has actually set.
As a consequence of this atmospheric trick, watchers
in
different locations will have a chance to observe this
unusual
sight firsthand, with the possibility of simultaneously
seeing
the sun rising in the east while the eclipsed full moon
is
setting in the west.
