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<h2>Total Lunar Eclipse: October 27</h2>
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<p style="text-align:center"><a href="2004-10chart.pdf"><img src="2004-10chart_t.jpg" border=0><br/>
Download this month's<br/>star chart!</a></p>
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<p>Mark your calendars now! On Wednesday, October 27, the Moon will slip into the shadow of the Earth causing a <strong>total lunar eclipse</strong>. The main, or, "umbral" part of the eclipse begins at 8:14 pm Central time. The edge of the Earth's shadow will slowly creep across the face of the Moon until totality, beginning at 9:23 pm. Totality lasts until 10:45 pm. (The "penumbral" eclipse starting at 7:06 pm is faint and practically impossible to detect.)</p>
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<h3>Wednesday, October 27, 2004</h3>
(Times are Central Standard Time - CST.)<br/>
penumbral eclipse begins - 7:06 PM<br/>
umbral eclipse begins - 8:14 PM<br/>
total eclipse begins - 9:23 PM<br/>
total eclipse ends - 10:45 PM<br/>
umbral eclipse ends - 11:54 PM<br/>
penumbral eclipse ends - 1:03 AM<br/>
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<p>Lunar eclipses are perfectly safe to view, and you won't need any special equipment to see it. However, telescopes and binoculars can add to the fun of watching the Earth's shadow sweep across the features of the Moon's surface. All you really need to enjoy a lunar eclipse are your eyes and some clear weather. There's no rule that says you have to watch the whole thing, either. Just go out and watch, even if it's just for a few minutes.</p>

<p>Just how dark the Moon gets during a lunar eclipse depends on the amount of dust in our planet's atmosphere and how deeply the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow.</p>

<p>To celebrate the eclipse, we're having a free <a href="/starparties/">star party</a> in front of <strong>Adventure Science Center, from 8-10 PM</strong> that night. Members of the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bsasnashville.com">Barnard Seyfert Astronomical Society</a> will be on hand to provide video and telescopic views and answer questions. We hope to see you there!
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<h2>Planets in Motion</h2>
<p>October continues the string of months we've had without good planets to see in the evening. Those who get up before sunrise will catch bright Venus low in the east and <strong>Saturn</strong> high in the sky, near <strong>Gemini the Twins</strong>. Watch on the morning of October 3, when Venus will lie very close to the bright star <strong>Regulus</strong>, which marks the heart of <strong>Leo the Lion</strong>.</p>

<p>Each morning Saturn rises a little earlier. Meanwhile Venus rises a little later each morning as it swings back toward the Sun. Toward the end of the month, mighty <strong>Jupiter</strong> emerges from behind the Sun, joining Venus in the east during the dawn twilight. On November 5, Jupiter, moving higher, will pass Venus, moving lower. Also watch on November 9, when both planets are joined by a thin crescent <strong>Moon</strong>.</p>

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<h2>Pegasus</h2>
<p>The autumn is a good time to watch for the famous <strong>Summer Triangle</strong>, nearly straight overhead just after sunset. But as the sky darkens, look slightly to the east for another simple shape, the <strong>Great Square of Pegasus</strong>. Pegasus is well known in Greek and Roman mythology as the flying horse that carried the hero Perseus to rescue the princess Andromeda.</p>
<p>The Great Square marks the body of the horse and appears almost twice as big as the "ladle" of the Big Dipper. From the western corner of the square, two long star-lines stretch out forming his front legs. His long neck and head reach out from the southern corner westward, all the way to <strong>Enif</strong>, the yellow-gold, nose star. Look carefully! If you're facing south, Pegasus will appear upside-down.</p>
<p>Pegasus seems to be stretching out to sniff <strong>M-15</strong>, a <strong>globular star cluster</strong> right in front of his nose. This round, hazy patch has a small, bright center and looks much like an out-of-focus star through binoculars or a small telescope. This star cluster is actually a dense "globe" composed of hundreds of thousands of stars. Compare M-15 to the <strong>Double Cluster</strong> between the constellations <strong>Perseus</strong> and <strong>Cassiopeia</strong>. The Double Cluster is a pair of <strong>open star clusters</strong> each consisting of only about three or four thousand stars.</p>

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<h2>Another Star Party!</h2>
<p>Join the Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society on <strong>Saturday evening, November 6, from 8-10 PM at the Visitors Center at Longhunter State Park</strong> for another chance to explore the universe through the telescopes and video cameras of these dedicated volunteers.</p>
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