Blood Moon-A-Risin'

Right on schedule at 8:14 PM CDT, the umbral shadow of the earth began to engulf the bright full  Hunter's moon over Monroe, Louisiana and the community was ready.  Over 130 people, 132 to be exact, showed up at Louisiana Delta Community College's parking lot to view the celestial event, not to be seen again until 2007.  "Slowly" but surly the earth's shadow swept over the moon at over 2000 mph!  At 9:23 the moon reached totality until 10:44 PM when the shadow began to recede.

Citizens old and young, students and teachers came to view the event.  Professor Brien Dunn began the ceremony with an informative and entertaining slide show tracing the human history of eclipse watching.  He was followed by Professor Don Munsey with folktales about the Hunter's Moon.  Munsey has been a professional storyteller for many years and is one of the finest in the region.

During the interval the audience was entertained by music under the moonlight.  Then Chancellor Kreider requested Pink Floyd's CD including "Dark Side of the Moon".  It certainly met the approval of everyone and most appropriate it was. 

Before long, it was 8:14 and the eclipse began.  Many viewers were able to peer through Delta's large telescopes as the shadow began it's trek across the lunar surface.

The Science Department would like to express its sincere thanks for all of the support showed by the community, the students at Delta, ULM, and Louisiana Tech, the Delta faculty, the News-Star, and the local radio stations who helped promote this event.  Below are photos of the event.  Enjoy!