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January 20, 2000 lunar eclipse
During last month's total lunar eclipse, many Bay Area astronomers enjoyed the sight of a pale orange to light red Moon. As the eclipse progressed during the night , unsettled weather moved through our region. In case you missed a clear shot of this event, we offer "Lunar Eclipse in Three Exposures" by Stephen Barnes. These digitally superimposed photos capture the Moon just as it entered the Earth's shadow, again as the Moon neared the middle
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of the shadow, and finally just prior to the Moon's exit from shadow. The apparent tinting of the lunar surface is created as sunlight enters Earth's atmosphere. The atmosphere preferentially scatters blue light (hence the blue sky) but passes and refracts red light, which then reflects back to us from the darkened surface of the Moon. The degree of tinting differs with each lunar eclipse, as cloud cover and suspended particles, such as volcanic dust, affect refraction. (Stephen Barnes, credit and copyright reserved. )
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A panel of scientists on the exploration of Mars will deliver the next Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture, Wednesday, March 1, at 7 p.m. in the Main Theater at Foothill College in Los Altos. Speakers are Chris McKay and Carol Stoker of NASA's Ames Research Center, and Margaret Race of the SETI Institute. Admission to this non-technical program is free (on a first-come, first-served basis) and the public is invited to attend.
Topics to be discussed include: recent discoveries about Mars, plans for future exploration of the red planet (and for the search for ancient Martian life), and NASA's plans to prevent terrestrial microbes from contaminating Mars and any possible Martian contamination of Earth.
With the Mars Global Surveyor sending images of unprecedented clarity, the sad loss of the Mars Polar
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Lander, and the continuing controversy whether rocks from Mars may harbor fossils of ancient microbes, Mars has been much in the news recently. Come hear the latest news and ideas from scientists who are actively involved in planning Mars missions.
The Silicon Valley Astronomy Lectures, co-sponsored by NASA Ames Research Center, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, SETI Institute, and Foothill College, explore exciting developments in our exploration of the universe. Lectures are delivered in everyday language that is familiar to the public.
Three additional lectures will be offered during spring 2000. For more information, call the series hotline at 650/ 949-7888. Foothill College is located off Freeway 280 in Los Altos Hills. Exit on El Monte Road and travel west. Visitors who drive must purchase campus parking permits for $2.
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