Total Lunar Eclipse starting around now. See what the Talmud has to say about this occurrence...""bad omen for ISRAEL, unless IT FULFILLS THE WILL OF GOD!!""!

"When the sun is in eclipse it is a bad omen for idolaters; when the Moon is in eclipse, it is a bad omen for Israel, since Israel reckons by Moon and idolaters by the sun. If it is in eclipse in the east, it is a bad omen for those who dwell in the east; if in the west, it is a bad omen for those who dwell in the west; if in the midst of heaven it is bad omen for the whole world. If its face is red as blood,it is a sign that the sword is coming to the world; if it is like sack-cloth, the arrows of famine are coming to the world; if it resembles both, the sword and the arrows of famine are coming to the world. If the eclipse is at sunset calamity will tarry in its coming; if at dawn, it hastens on its way: but some say the order is to be reversed. And there is no nation which is smitten that its gods are not smitten together with it, as it is said, And against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments. But when Israel fulfill the will of the Omnipresent, they need have no fear of all these omens as it is said, Thus saith the Lord,'Learn not the way of the nations, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the nations are dismayed at them, the idolaters will be dismayed, but Israel will not be dismayed" Talmud Sukkah 29

Lunar eclipse to occur Wednesday night

By ALICIA CHANG, AP Science WriterTue Feb 19, 7:48 PM ET

The last total lunar eclipse until 2010 occurs Wednesday night, with cameo appearances by Saturn and the bright star Regulus on either side of the veiled full moon.

Skywatchers viewing through a telescope will have the added treat of seeing Saturn's handsome rings.

Weather permitting, the total eclipse can be seen from North and South America. People in Europe and Africa will be able to see it high in the sky before dawn on Thursday.

As the moonlight dims — it won't go totally dark — Saturn and Regulus will pop out and sandwich the moon. Regulus is the brightest star in the constellation Leo.

Jack Horkheimer, host of the PBS show "Star Gazer," called the event "the moon, the lord of the rings and heart of the lion eclipse."

Wednesday's event will be the last total lunar eclipse until Dec. 20, 2010. Last year there were two.

The weather could be a spoiler for many in the United States. Cloudy skies are expected for most of the Western states with a chance of snow from the heartland to the East Coast, said Stuart Seto of the National Weather Service.

"It looks like it's going to be a hard one to spot," Seto said.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the full moon passes into Earth's shadow and is blocked from the sun's rays that normally illuminate it. During an eclipse, the sun, Earth and moon line up, leaving a darkened moon visible to observers on the night side of the planet.

The moon doesn't go black because indirect sunlight still reaches it after passing through the Earth's atmosphere. Since the atmosphere filters out blue light, the indirect light that reaches the moon transforms it into a reddish or orange tinge, depending on how much dust and cloud cover are in the atmosphere at the time.

Wednesday's total eclipse phase will last nearly an hour. Earth's shadow is expected to blot out the moon beginning around 7 p.m. on the West Coast and 10 p.m. on the East Coast. West Coast skygazers will miss the start of the eclipse because it occurs before the moon rises.

Unlike solar eclipses which require protective eyewear, lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye.

Later this year, in August, there will be a total solar eclipse and a partial lunar eclipse.

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According to Jewish Rabbinic tradition, an eclipse should be interpreted according to the following: (Talmud - Mas. Sukkah 29a) (The last pair are reversed in the minds of some.)

• Solar: a bad omen for idolaters
• Lunar: a bad omen for Israel
• Red Moon at Lunar eclipse: a sword is coming for the whole world
• Black Moon at Lunar eclipse: the arrows of famine are coming to the world
• Both red and black moon: both sword and famine
• In the East: specifically for those who live in the East
• In the West: specifically for those who live in the West
• In the midst of heaven: for the whole world
• At sunset: the calamity will tarry in its coming
• At dawn: the calamity is forthcoming

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