Eerie Eclipse Due in Hawaii Skies Early Saturday

Editor’s Note: A spokesperson from Bishop Museum wants to clarify that the eclipse will occur Friday night/Saturday morning (12/10/2011), saying that in these situations, many people mistakenly stay up late on the following night instead (Saturday night/Sunday morning in this case, which would be incorrect).

By Wendy Osher

Sky watchers will have the opportunity to view a total lunar eclipse from Hawaii in the early morning hours on Saturday, December 10, 2011.

The moon often appears to be an eerie reddish or copper color during the phenomenon, as the earth passes between the moon and the sun.

Officials at the Bishop Museum’s Watumull Planetarium say viewing from the Hawaiian islands starts at about 2:45 a.m. and will last for several hours until 6:20 a.m.

Between 4:10 and 4:55 a.m. HST, the eclipse will be total, with the entire moon in the shadow of the earth—making the moon appear dramatically darker or redder than usual.

According to the planetarium’s viewing materials, the color of the moon can vary during a lunar eclipse, depending on the amount of particulates in the earth’s atmosphere. Volcanic activity can reportedly create darker conditions, while clear skies often result in more reddish conditions.

The last time such an occurrence was visible in Hawai‘i skies was about a year ago on December 20, 2010.