Lunar eclipse on 26th June 2010

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Hi friends, as per NASA Science News, This Saturday morning, June 26th, there is going to be a lunar eclipse—and for many residents of the USA, it's going to be a big one. The eclipse will occur as the Moon is setting, prompting the "Moon Illusion" to magnify the event to truly beautiful proportions. FULL STORY at: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/24jun_lunareclipse/ Author: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA The eclipse begins at 3:17 am PDT (10:17 UT) when the Moon enters the sunset-colored shadow of Earth. By 4:38 am PDT (11:38 UT), the moment of greatest eclipse, 54% of the Moon's diameter will be covered. From beginning to end, the event lasts almost three hours. Although the eclipse is only partial, it will be magnified in size and charm by the "Moon Illusion"--a result of the eclipse occurring close to the horizon from viewing sites in the USA. For reasons not fully understood by astronomers or psychologists, low-hanging Moons look unnaturally large when they beam through trees, buildings and other foreground objects. In fact, a low Moon is no wider than any other Moon—cameras prove it—but the human brain insists otherwise. The effect will be particularly strong in western and central parts of the USA and Canada where the Moon will be setting as the eclipse reaches maximum. (Observing tip: Look low and to the west just before dawn.) The fact that the extra size is just an illusion in no way detracts from the beauty. People in New England and northeastern Canada will just miss it. The Moon sets shortly before the eclipse begins. Halfway around the world, observers in India, Japan, and parts of East Asia will experience the same phenomenon. They'll see the eclipse on Saturday evening as the Moon is rising. The Moon Illusion will be fully active as Earth's shadow sweeps across low-hanging lunar terrain. It almost makes you feel sorry for people living on the dreamy islands of the South Pacific. There the eclipse takes place directly overhead, high in the midnight sky where the Moon Illusion does not work. That's okay. A partial lunar eclipse is a beautiful thing all by itself. [b]NEXT REPORT IS MINE. I am associated with the oldest Almanac published in my state Orissa, for the past 27 years. I am a registered Astrologist. We here in India, particularly Hindus observe many rituals, we don’t eat during the eclipse, and several hour before and after it. It has scientific reasons, as the magnetic field of earth becomes weak, our digestion suffers. We take bath after the eclipse, donate food etc to poor and needy, visit temples, and then eat light food. But this eclipse will NOT be visible in my city Sambalpur. So we are not going to observe these rituals. But it will be visible (partial eclipse only) in Kolkata, Assam, Agartala, Bangladesh, Etanagar, Kohima for about 10 to 15 minutes. So ‘Enjoy the show’ and tell me when it occurred at your place, was it full or partial. Please include name of your city. This I will include in my report. Thanks in advance. Do you observe any rituals? Tell me. [/b] Professor