Total Lunar Eclipse at Midnight

Tonight will be a total lunar eclipse starting at 10:58 going to full eclipse at 12:07 lasting until 1:25 AM.   Today was a warm sunny day.  Unfortunately it is now slightly overcast while heading towards rain tomorrow.  This is the first of four lunar eclipses in the next 18 months that will be visible from North America.

Aside from great mythology including lunatics, werewolves and vampires, the moon does great things for earth such as ocean tides and serving as an early calendar.  The land-water interface is key for life on earth.  Having tides makes that zone a much bigger place greatly increasing the space for life on earth to begin and evolve.

While web-surfing tonight, I came across an article on the most iconic pictures of the 20^th century.  The lead picture was of Che Guevara—I had to guess at the picture.  Buzz Aldrin on the moon with the US Flag is easily my best choice for picture of the century.

I am grateful for the beauty, science and mythology of the moon.  It makes life both possible and better.