Tonight, March 13th, a there will be a chance to view something very rare. A total lunar eclipse, Known as a blood moon. The mon will move into the earth’s shadow, causing the moon to appear a deep red color, the eclipse will be visible all across Kansas early tomorrow morning.It will begin just after midnight, at 12:09 and totality begins at 1:26 and last until 2:31 and gradually return back to normal over the course of a couple hours.
Did you know a total lunar eclipse helped Columbus, back in 1504? On his fourth trans-atlantic voyage, Columbus was stranded on the shores of jamaica and his crew was hungry. The Indigenous people, who had initially welcomed the Europeans, had grown tired of their demands. Columbus had a trick up his sleeve. He consulted his astronomical tables and saw that a total lunar eclipse was imminent. Gathering the island’s leaders, he warned them that his god would blot out the moon in anger if they did not help him by providing supplies. Fear gripped the natives when the blood-red eclipse darkened the sky and they rushed to appease Columbus with food and aid.
That’s your KOFO history lesson for the day. Enjoy the eclipse tonight.
