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Enlighten Festival Features Public Lunar Eclipse and Planetary Viewing at Parliament House

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Enlighten Festival: Lunar Eclipse Viewing at Australian Parliament House

The Enlighten Festival in Canberra will run from February 27 to March 9, featuring a public lunar eclipse viewing and planetary observation event at Australian Parliament House.

Lunar Eclipse: A Celestial Spectacle

On Tuesday, March 3, a lunar eclipse will be prominently visible, with Australian National University astrophysicist Brad Tucker on hand to guide visitors through the event at Parliament House.

  • The Moon will begin entering Earth's shadow around 8:40 pm.
  • The Moon will start to darken approximately 10 minutes later.
  • By 10:04 pm, the Moon will be fully in Earth's shadow, appearing a deep red.
  • The darkest and reddest phase is expected to occur at 10:33 pm.
  • The Moon will begin to emerge from the shadow after 11 pm.

Approximately an hour of darkness and a blood-red color is anticipated, offering a spectacular natural display.

The lunar eclipse is safe to observe with the naked eye. For closer inspection, between 10 and 12 telescopes will be available on the Parliament House forecourt. Dr. Tucker has stated that ambient light from festival projections will not affect visibility due to the Moon's inherent brightness. The primary concern that could hinder viewing is cloud cover.

Planetary Observations

Beyond the lunar eclipse, the night sky will offer additional sights. Jupiter and Saturn will be visible, with Jupiter positioned notably near the Moon during the eclipse. Venus will also make an appearance shortly after sunset.

Beyond the Eclipse: More at Parliament House

Parliament House will host other Enlighten activities throughout the festival, including projection shows featuring Philip Bunting's children's book "Democracy." To enhance the visitor experience, free parking will be available on-site, encouraging visitors to begin their festival journey at Parliament House.

Alternative Viewing & Stargazing

Mount Stromlo Observatory will also participate in Enlighten events. These opportunities will include projections on telescopes and bookable stargazing sessions, scheduled during the first and second weekends of the festival.