Total lunar eclipse will occur on February 20

January 30, 2008

Contact: John Martin, 217/206-8342, jmart5@uis.edu

Event will be visible locally, weather permitting

SPRINGFIELD – A total lunar eclipse will be visible in the Springfield area, weather permitting, on Wednesday evening, February 20.

This diagram by UIS Professor John Martin shows the path that the Moon will appear to take through the earth's shadow during the eclipse.

Locally, the full moon will enter the earth's shadow at 7:43 p.m. The moon will become totally immersed at 9:01 p.m.; totality will last 50 minutes – until 9:51 p.m. Last contact with the earth’s shadow will be at 11:09 p.m.

The University of Illinois at Springfield observatory will be open for the event from 8 to 10:30 p.m., weather permitting. John Martin, assistant professor of Astronomy/Physics at UIS, will facilitate viewing the eclipse through the observatory's three telescopes. The entrance to the campus observatory is located outside Brookens Library on the southeast corner.

This special event at the observatory is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required.

Call 206-7328 at 7 p.m. on February 20 to learn if the observatory will be open in consideration of the weather.

The University of Illinois at Springfield, one of three U of I campuses, is a small, public liberal arts university that offers 42 degree programs: 21 bachelor's, 20 master's, and the Doctorate of Public Administration. UIS has a special mission in public affairs and service and is known for extraordinary internships, a wireless campus, extensive online offerings, and a commitment to teaching.