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The last total lunar eclipse until 2010 proved to be a tantalizing affair for amateur astronomers.
The full moon that normally paints the Dakota Wesleyan University campus with pale silver light was barely visible to members of Michael Farney’s honors astronomy class Wednesday night.
The students who filled the front deck at Farney’s 1313 W. University Ave. home and peered into a small telescope had to be satisfied with partial views of the eclipse as the moon played a coy game of hide-and-seek behind ribbed veils of clouds.
Dakota Wesleyan University Professor Mike Farney, right, hosted an eclipse viewing party Wednesday for his honors astronomy class. The students, from left, are Seth LaBounty, Rose Decker, Kara Robertson, Shannon Mack and Wade Schoenfelder. (Ross Dolan/Republic)
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the full moon passes into Earth’s shadow and is blocked from the sun’s rays that normally illuminate it. During an eclipse, the sun, Earth and moon line up, leaving a darkened moon visible to observers on the night side of the planet. Clouds obscured a bonus viewing of Saturn’s rings.
Viewings were brief during Wednesday’s zero-degree temperatures.
“It’s cold out,” said a cheery Farney, “but we have seen a little bit of the eclipse.”
The rest of the time, students retreated indoors to hang with Farney’s cats who, displaying typical feline intelligence, stayed out of the cold.
Around 9 p.m. students confirmed that the eclipse was indeed total and, satisfied, quickly retreated indoors for brownies and other refreshments.
“By sheer luck the eclipse happened right in the middle of class,” said Farney. The five-member “Worlds Real and Imagined” astronomy class meets from 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays.
“You can’t beat that for scheduling,” he said.
Wednesday’s total eclipse lasted about an hour. Earth’s shadow blotted out the moon beginning around 7 p.m. on the West Coast and 10 p.m. on the East Coast. West Coast skygazers missed the start of the eclipse because it occurred before moonrise. Wednesday’s event was the last total lunar eclipse until Dec. 20, 2010. Last year there were two.
Later this year, in August, there will be a total solar eclipse and a partial lunar eclipse.
— The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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