Up All Night With NASA: Chat live about lunar eclipse Dec. 20-21

WHAT: Earth’s moon will share a holiday surprise with skywatchers on Dec. 20-21 — a total lunar eclipse. Astronomers at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., will be watching, and they’ll host a pair of live web chats to answer space enthusiasts’ questions and help make the rare celestial experience one to remember. Marshall experts also will be available for media interviews about the phenomenon.

The eclipse is set to begin over the Tennessee Valley on Dec. 20 at 11:29 p.m. CST. As the moon moves into the umbra phase, on Dec. 21 at 12:32 a.m. CST, its appearance will be dramatically altered — changing in color from bright orange to blood red to dark brown and perhaps gray.

WHERE: Press Room, Marshall Space Flight Center Building 4200, Rideout Road

WHEN:

— Media availability: 1-2 p.m. CST, Dec. 20. Media are invited to interview Rob Suggs about the lunar eclipse at the Marshall Center

— Live web chat: 3-4 p.m. CST, Dec. 20. Marshall Center astronomer Rob Suggs will answer questions about the eclipse, and the best ways to view it, via a live web chat

— “Up All Night With NASA”: 11 p.m. CST Dec. 20 to 4 a.m., Dec. 21. Marshall researcher, Mitzi Adams will take questions before and throughout the eclipse as it passes across the continental United States. A live video feed of the eclipse will be available on the chat site.

TO JOIN WEB CHAT: On Dec. 20, log into the chat page a few minutes before the start. A chat window will be active at the bottom of the page. The page can be found at:

http://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/lunar_eclipse.html

For more information about the eclipse, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/eclipse/index.html

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/watchtheskies/index.html

TO ATTEND: News media interested in attending the events should contact Janet Anderson in Marshall’s Public & Employee Communications Office at 256-544-0034 no later than 9 a.m. CDT on Monday, Dec. 20. Media must report to the Redstone Arsenal Joint Visitor Control Center at Gate 9, Interstate 565 interchange at Rideout Road/Research Park Boulevard. Vehicles are subject to a security search at the gate. News media will need two photo identifications and proof of car insurance. Visitor parking is available in front of Building 4200 on the southwest side.