OBSERVING THE SUN AND MOON DURING A LUNAR ECLIPSE

Because of the size of the Earth's umbral cone at the Moon's distance, there will be locations where both the Sun and the Moon are above the visible horizon during the partial phase and the beginning and end of totality of a lunar eclipse. Observers at these locations are provide d with the rare opportunity of simultaneously seeing all three bodies participating in the eclipse. Near these locations it should also be p ossible to observe the Earth's shadow projected first on the atmospher e as the twilight wedge and then on the surface of the Moon. Optimal l ocations for such observations are given for all eclipses in the years 1996-2015.