RELEASE DATE:
May 12, 2022
Photo attachments: (1) Patrick Ross, Longway Planetarium Manager (2) Flower Moon image [iStock image] (3) Longway Planetarium exterior
CONTACT:
Anne Mancour, Marketing Manager Cell: 248-318-1906 | Office: 810-237-3443 | Email: AMancour@SloanLongway.org May 15 Lunar Eclipse will be Special for Michigan Residents Flint, MI – The first total lunar eclipse of 2022, so-called The Flower Moon, is about to dye the moon red on Sunday night. "The lunar eclipse will take place starting around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 15," stated Longway Planetarium's Manager Patrick Ross, who frequently gives astronomy lectures during the planetarium's Skies Over Michigan live shows.
While lunar eclipses are not as rare as commonly portrayed, Ross noted, this eclipse will be special for Michigan residents. "At the start of the eclipse, the Moon will be visible near the horizon to the East. Totality will occur when the Moon is close to the meridian, or the imaginary line running from North to South across the night sky. When the Sun, Moon, or stars pass over the meridian, they are at their highest possible points in the night sky. This means the lunar eclipse on Sunday night will be far above the horizon and will be visible from any location without tall buildings or trees to the South."
Ross also noted that lunar eclipses are safe to look at with your eyes or a common telescope. "Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses do not require special eye protection."
Eclipses of all forms occur when one object blocks another. In the case of a total lunar eclipse, the Earth intercedes between the sun and the moon.
If you'd like to learn more about the eclipse, or about constellations, stars and galaxies currently visible in Michigan's skies, details will be presented during the regular Skies Over Michigan. a live, interactive astronomy talks Tuesdays through Sundays at 3 p.m. at Longway Planetarium. Due to the Genesee County Arts, Education & Cultural Millage, Genesee County residents get 50% off admission tickets. Go to SloanLongway.org/Skies-Over-Michigan to learn more.
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About Longway PlanetariumThe Robert T. Longway Planetarium is part of the Flint Cultural Center campus in Flint, Michigan and is one of the largest and best equipped planetariums in the United States. It was renovated in 2015 with 129 reclining seats and upgraded to Digistar 7 technology in 2021. Originally designed by the Detroit architectural firm of Smith, Hinchman and Grylls in 1958, the structure consists of steel-reinforced concrete, measures 88 feet in diameter and 40 feet in height. Together with the Sloan Museum of Discovery, its mission is to engage communities on a learning journey is history and science. It is supported in part by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA), and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Longway Planetarium and Sloan Museum of Discovery are funded in part by the Genesee County Arts Education and Cultural Enrichment Millage. Your tax dollars are at work. Learn more at www.SloanLongway.org. |
