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Article: Eclipsed; Celestial mechanics of an amber moon rising.
- Article from:
- The Birmingham Post (England)
- Article date:
- January 10, 2001
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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In days gone by the Chinese believed eclipses were caused by immense dragons greedily devouring the moon and the sun. In their fright they would beat drums and brass kettles to terrify the monsters into releasing their prey.
The welcome for last night's eclipse was slightly more muted as families peered out of windows or gathered in woolly scarves and hats in the garden to watch the moon turn amber in one of the best examples of the lunar phenomenon in recent years.
Astronomy is enjoying the kind of popular renaissance that until now astronomers have only ...