Did you get to see the lunar eclipse last night/this morning? I did not, but not for lack of trying. Last night, we had some weather move into my area, and the rain and snow clouds concealed the winter light show that the rest of North America got to enjoy. I was sad about this, until I heard that this was the first convergence of the lunar eclipse and the winter solstice in 372 years. Now, I’m very sad, because I missed something I will never be able to see again.
However, we do know when the next combined solstice and lunar eclipse will be. The last time this occurred was on December 21, 1638. The unique combination of events will happen next on December 21, 2094, according to US Naval Observatory spokesman Geoff Chester. So hey, it’s not all hopeless; I just have to live to be 113 and be lucky enough to have good weather, and I can see history! At least I watched the 2008 lunar eclipse, so I’ve got that going for me.
Tags: lunar eclipse, winter solstice, winter solstice and lunar eclipse on the same night, lunar eclipse and winter solstice in 372 years, winter solstice and lunar eclipse, convergence of lunar eclipse and solstice, unusual phenomenon, astronomical phenomenon, astronomy, US Naval Observatory, Geoff Chester