Total Lunar Eclipse and Winter Solstice Coincide on Dec. 21

 

Path of the Moon through Earth's umbral and penumbral shadows during the Total Lunar Eclipse of Dec. 21, 2010. (Credit: Fred Espenak/NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center)

 

ScienceDaily (Dec. 17, 2010) — With frigid temperatures already blanketing much of the United States, the arrival of the winter solstice on December 21 may not be an occasion many people feel like celebrating. But a dazzling total lunar eclipse to start the day might just raise a few chilled spirits.

 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101217192856.htm

Here in the UK we might just get to see it on the way to work - if we are mad wage slaves up and about before dawn. Full eclipse however is after sunrise - so no chance of seeing the full eclipse; shame, the druid sorts would be going mad trying to get into Stonehenge for a total eclipse on the winter solstice. I think the major stones line up for the equinoxes rather than the solstices but would still be worth seeing.