Keep
your fingers crossed as you stare at the sky or simply
watch it live here. |
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Total Lunar Eclipse and
Space Phenomenon – Comet Q4 NEAT and Comet T7 LINEAR
It’ll be Tuesday Night Fever
for most astronomers and those with a keen eye for essential happenings
as one of nature’s heavenly displays is expected to take place
– the Total lunar eclipse and sightings of Comet Q4 NEAT and
Comet T7 LINEAR.
TM Net, in collaboration with PUSKAL-Sabah
and Sabah Youth and Sports Ministry presents you one of nature’s
most spectacular shows live via www.BlueHyppo.com from the observation
site at Bukit Batu Tiga, Ranau, Sabah.
| Sightings Times |
Comet Q4 NEAT
4th May 2004
8pm – 10pm |
Total Lunar Eclipse & Comet T7 LINEAR
5th May 2004
2:40am – 6:30am |
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How comet Q4 NEAT might appear
in the night sky on May 4, 2004,
as seen at 8.00 p.m.
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How comet T7 LINEAR might appear
on May 5, 2004,
as seen at 4.30 a.m. |
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TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE
During a Total Lunar Eclipse, the Sun, Moon and Earth are in alignment
causing the Earth to block all direct sunlight from reaching the Moon.
However, it will not become obliterated, for the Moon will be tinged
by residual sunlight that is deflected by Earth's atmosphere. Gradually,
the Full Moon reduces to a crescent until it becomes entirely dark
deep brown or coppery bronze. This is just the sight to behold when
you are anticipating a lunar eclipse as rare as this.
"The eclipse will be visible from Asia, India, Africa, Europe,
Australia and most of the South American continent," said PUSKAL-Sabah
Astronomer cum Head Researcher Dr Mustapha Nasir.
The Total Lunar Eclipse phase begins at 2.48am until sunrise on May
5, 2004. The moon will be completely eclipsed at 3:52 am and at its
peak around 4:30 am. At 5:08 am, the moon will gradually return to
its crescent form and full again at 6:12 am. On the same day, the
moon is expected to dip below the western horizon of Kota Kinabalu
area at 6:08 am.
SPACE PHENOMENON
– Comet Q4 NEAT & Comet T7 LINEAR
The last comet to be visible to the naked eye from Earth was Hale-Bopp
and that was in 1997. Astronomers are now hopeful to view the two
major comets, Comet Q4 NEAT and Comet T7 LINEAR, both recently discovered
by two U.S. robot telescopes.
PUSKAL-Sabah’s Astronomer Dr Mustapha Nasir states that sightings
for Comet Q4 NEAT can be made from sunset until 10:30pm on May 4,
2004 whereas Comet T7 LINEAR will be visible at 3:40 am on the next
day. He added that “The former will be clearest at 3:52am when
the Total Lunar Eclipse takes place”.
