Astronomists in Taiwan will be able to catch every stage of a total lunar eclipse on Saturday, with observation conditions the best in more than a decade, according to the Taipei Astronomical Museum.
It said that the eclipse would begin at 7:30pm and last until about 1:30am the next day, the -longest visible lunar eclipse in recent years.
The museum said it is a “once in a blue moon” opportunity because lunar eclipses are usually cut short because of interference from sunlight.
The last time Taiwanese were treated to the rare astronomical event was in 2000, museum -assistant researcher Chang Kuei-lan (張桂蘭) said.
The next total lunar eclipse will take place in 2018, the researcher added.
Chang said her advice to astronomy enthusiasts was not to miss what she called the “greatest eclipse” — when the moon becomes entirely obscured as it passes through the Earth’s shadow.
“To me, it’s a super spooky experience,” she said, explaining that the moon will turn completely copper-red when the phenomenon takes place at about 10:30pm.
The change in the moon’s color is caused by the scattering of sunlight that peeps through from behind the Earth as it passes between the moon and the sun.
A total lunar eclipse can be easily observed, Chang said, as it is visible to the naked eye, so all one has to do is simply look up in the eastern sky to see it.
However, since the chance of rainfall is high for Saturday, according to the Central Weather Bureau, it is possible that the lunar spectacle could be blocked by clouds.
“It would be such a pity if it rains that night,” Chang said.
“A total lunar eclipse is absolutely a family event that will bring everyone utmost entertainment,” she added.
FAST TRACK? Chinese spouses must renounce their Chinese citizenship and pledge allegiance to Taiwan to gain citizenship, some demonstrators said Opponents and supporters of a bill that would allow Chinese spouses to obtain Taiwanese citizenship in four years instead of six staged protests near the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday morning. Those who oppose the bill proposed by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) demanded that Chinese spouses be granted citizenship only after renouncing their Chinese citizenship, passing a citizenship test and pledging allegiance to Taiwan. The demonstrators, who were protesting at a side entrance to the Legislative Yuan on Jinan Road, were mostly members of the Taiwan Association of University Professors and other organizations advocating Taiwanese independence. Supporters of the bill, led
SILENT MAJORITY: Only 1 percent of Chinese rejected all options but war to annex Taiwan, while one-third viewed war as unacceptable, a university study showed Many Chinese are more concerned with developments inside their country than with seeking unification with Taiwan, al-Jazeera reported on Friday. Although China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to annex it, by force if necessary, 23-year-old Chinese Shao Hongtian was quoted by al-Jazeera as saying that “hostilities are not the way to bring China and Taiwan together.” “I want unification to happen peacefully,” Shao said. Al-Jazeera said it changed Shao’s name to respect his wish for anonymity. If peaceful unification is not possible, Shao said he would prefer “things to remain as they are,” adding that many of his friends feel
Taiwan has “absolute air superiority” over China in its own airspace, Deputy Minister of National Defense Po Horng-huei (柏鴻輝) told a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee on Monday, amid concern over whether Taipei could defend itself against a military incursion by Beijing. Po made the remarks in response to a question from Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chiu Chih-wei (邱志偉) on whether Taiwan would have partial or complete air superiority if Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) warplanes were to enter Taiwan’s airspace. Po, a retired pilot, said that the Taiwanese military has “absolute air superiority” over PLA
A shipment of basil pesto imported by Costco Wholesale Taiwan from the US in the middle of last month was intercepted at the border after testing positive for excessive pesticide residue, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. Samples taken from a shipment of the Kirkland Signature brand of basil pesto imported by Costco contained 0.1 milligrams per kilogram of ethylene oxide, exceeding the non-detectable limit. Ethylene oxide is a carcinogenic substance that can be used as a pesticide. The 674kg shipment of basil pesto would either be destroyed or returned to its country of origin, as is the procedure for all