Every time I think I’ll be able to finish my thought on acorns, some time-sensitive thing worth mentioning pops up. There are a few of those this week so once again I’m setting the acorns aside. One of these days I’ll surprise you with it. It is truly fascinating and just may fill in a few blanks you’ve always wondered about. There, that’s cryptic enough.  😉

In case you don’t yet know or have yet to read the news, tomorrow’s lunar eclipse is unusual for a few reasons. I thought to blog about it tomorrow. The thing is, were I to inspire you to go watch the eclipse, by the time I posted here it would be over. Hence the topic change today.

So how is it unusual?

First off an eclipse is also a syzygy. Here’s the definition:
an alignment of three celestial objects, as the sun, the earth, and either the moon or a planet (from Latin and Greek meaning yoked together)

Secondly, it’s a Blood Moon. This total lunar eclipse earns that grisly name by the fact it turns a deep red when the moon passes into the earth’s shadow. Here’s a great explanation by NASA.

And lastly, this event is also a selenelion. For some people in North America, tomorrow morning will not only show a blood red moon in the western sky, they will see the sun rise in the east. Both will be visible at the same time exactly 180 degrees apart in the sky. It’s interesting to note that celestial geometry says this is impossible. The earth is in the way. The reason we can see something that is mathematically impossible is actually pretty cool.

Our earth’s atmosphere refracts light. Whenever we see the moon and sun rising or setting, we’re really seeing it a few minutes before or after the fact. An optical illusion. This is because the image of the moon and sun are optically bent.  Imagine light coming in through a prism (in lieu of that, picture that Pink Floyd album with the bent rainbow). That’s what’s happening to our view of the sun and moon. The images of both are lifted above the horizon by atmospheric refraction. I’m in the central United States so I’ll be able to see the selenelion tomorrow. A first for me. 😀

Here’s another brief explanation from NASA.

More~

Find the viewing times here. (thanks E!)
http://weather.weatherbug.com/weather-news/weather-reports.html?story=16384&zcode=ZBETAT

NASA explains the Tetrad of eclipses we’re having.
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/27mar_tetrad/

Throughout history, eclipses were considered portents of great change. Here’s a nice selection of historic eclipse quotes. Some speak of the changes in battle and crown tied to such celestial events. http://mreclipse.com/Special/quotes3.html

The first thing that always comes to mind when I think of eclipses is Shakespeare.  If you’ve been to my blog before you know I’m a fan of the bard. He wrote eclipses as metaphor and added them to many of his works because they were harbingers of change. There’s a reason he did. In his time there were a few remarkable celestial events that coincided with world change.

Here’s a list of 12 eclipses that heralded other changes.
http://listosaur.com/history/12-famous-eclipses-in-history

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For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Clichés.
There are 23 entries to come.

Here’s a cliché for today:
Now you see it. Now you don’t

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My monthly post is still up at Romance Books ‘4’ Us. I’m talking about Autumn as the Season for the Senses. I’m offering a very nice fall recipe too. Come see!
http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/2014/10/a-season-for-senses-by-rose-anderson.html

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Today’s guest is Dianna Love and she’s giving away book prizes http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Romance Books ‘4’ Us ~ Our October contest is on!
20 prizes for 20 winners. 😀
http://www.romancebooks4us.com

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My recent projects~

Tasteful Murders
http://www.amazon.com/Tasteful-Murders-Paul-R-Lancey-ebook/dp/B00NG86P02/

Bake, Love, Write: 105 Authors Share Dessert Recipes and Advice on Love and Writing
In paperback and ebook. The e-version of our cookbook is sold everywhere for 99⊄. See My Other Projects page above for links to various formats.
http://www.amazon.com/Bake-Love-Write-Authors-Dessert-ebook/dp/B00NO2DPTY/
We hit #2 on Amazon’s Bestseller List!

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