LEWISTON, Idaho – Ranger Kevin Peters of the Nez Perce National Historical Park and professor John Morrison of Lewis-Clark State College’s Natural Sciences and Mathematics Division will host a viewing of the total eclipse of the moon on Sunday night, Sept. 27, at the Nez Perce National Historical Park in Spalding, Idaho.
The event, which is free and open to the public, starts at 6:30 p.m. when a partial eclipse of the rising moon will already be underway. The total eclipse begins at 7:11 p.m. and should last until 8:23 p.m., with the partial eclipse phase ending at 9:27 p.m. For more information call 208-843-7009.
This particular eclipse has the potential of being one of the more
spectacular lunar eclipses of the times. Sunday will be the night of the harvest moon, and it will be the largest full moon of the year, also known as the supermoon. Supermoons happen when the moon is closest in its orbit to the Earth and are about 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than usual. Additionally, because of all of the dust and smoke in the atmosphere, the colors of the eclipse may be much more intense than usual. The next total eclipse of a supermoon will not take place until 2033.
During the evening Peters will share Nez Perce legends concerning the moon, and LCSC Professor Emeritus Victor Kriss will offer a description of the celestial mechanics of the eclipse.
The eclipse can be viewed anywhere the moon can be seen, however, the natural setting behind the Nez Perce visitor’s center is expected to present an exceptional image of the eclipse rising over the eastern hills of Idaho.