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Sarah Dallof reportingYou will have the chance to see an amazing sight tonight: a full lunar eclipse. You may also see Saturn, but only if the weather cooperates.
It's rare, but tonight the moon will pass right through the earth's shadow, and it won't happen again until 2010.
Ann House, vice president of the Salt Lake Astronomical Society, says, "We're kind of out here looking at the sky right now, and it's looking a little clouded over and a little hazy."
The good news, this eclipse will starting around 6:30 p.m. and go for several hours; meaning patience will likely pay off. "Even if you've got a window in the clouds, you can peek through it," says House.
The Salt Lake Astronomical Society is hosting two lunar eclipse watches. They will have the telescopes, you just worry about yourself.
The first at the Brickyard Harmons near 1300 East and 3200 South in Salt Lake City. The second at the Stansbury Park Observatory Complex (SPOC). House says the observatory is away from the city lights, and that's where you'll get the best views of the eclipse.
In years past, eclipses were cause for fear, according to Clark Planetarium director Seth Jarvis.
Jarvis says, "People would think dragons are eating the moon. They'd shoot guns and bang drums to scare away the dragon. And of course, it always gives up the moon and goes away, and so clearly it works."
Now, they spark wonder and curiosity. Barring cloud cover, you will see the eclipse with the naked eye tonight. If you bring a telescope, you'll get a bonus.
Jarvis says, "As the moon goes dark red, look a little bit to the lower left of the moon, that's the planet Saturn. And if you do have a small telescope, Saturn's rings will really pop out at you."
What's nice about this eclipse is you don't have to wake up at an odd hour to see it.
It will start around 6:30 tonight. It will be darkest, the blood red color from about 8 p.m. to 8:50 p.m.
