Skies partially clear for eclipse tonight

<p>The early departure of rain from the North Bay on Wednesday and a partial clearing of local skies improves chances for seeing a total lunar eclipse Wednesday night, the National Weather Service said.</p><p>Conditions are a bit shaky, with partial cloudy skies expected, but “I think there might be a window - albeit a narrow window - for viewers of the eclipse,” forecaster Bob Benjamin said.</p><p>The next rain is not expected until Thursday morning, preceded by a cloud bank moving in late Wednesday - arriving after the eclipse, with any luck, Benjamin said.</p><p>“I think we might be just about right,” he said.</p><p>A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, earth and moon align so that the earth blocks sunlight from reaching and reflecting off the full moon.</p><p>Wednesday’s eclipse is the last total lunar eclipse until Dec. 21, 2010.</p><p>The moon will move first into a partial shadow of the earth, causing a partial eclipse beginning at 5:43 p.m.</p><p>The moon will be in complete shadow - and thus total eclipse — from 7:01 p.m. to 7:51 p.m., when indirect sunlight filtered through the earth’s atmosphere will make it appear reddish.</p><p>The moon will then shift back into partial eclipse until 9:09 p.m.</p><p>The moon will be low in the sky, within about 20 degrees of the horizon, so astronomers recommend viewers watch from a hill or other high point with an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon.</p>