Celestial event caps off the year

This week marked a rare occurrence. Late Monday night into early Tuesday morning brought a spectacular total eclipse of the moon. That same Tuesday, the winter solstice arrived. Astronomers note that the last time these events occurred on the same day was 372 years ago, on Dec. 21, 1638. The next time the winter solstice and total lunar eclipse happen on the same calendar day will be Dec. 21, 2094.

Did you stay up late to witness this incredible event? Earlier that evening I was out on a run and could see the full moon trying to peek out from behind the cloudy haze. I wondered if the sky would clear enough to be able to watch the Earth's shadow move across the surface of the moon.

By 10:30, the cloudiness had lifted. I stepped outside to see the moon, radiant and full, suspended in the nighttime sky. The frigid air only allowed me to stay out for short time, though I managed to watch the eclipse in increments as it progressed into completion. At the height, around 12:15 a.m., the moon was cast in a spectacular reddish glow.

It might seem that the moon should not be visible at all during an eclipse, but even though the Earth is blocking the sun's direct rays, indirect light still hits it. As light from the sun moves through the atmosphere, particles within that atmosphere cause the rays to bounce and bend. The more atmosphere that light has to travel through, the more the color spectrum of those rays becomes scattered. By the time the light hits the moon, the red end of the spectrum is about all that can get through. Thus, the reddish, spooky glow.

I know that the long, dark days of winter are not a favorite for many people, but I wanted to share this poem by Rainer Maria Rilke. I think it captures the magical essence that lingers among those quiet hours.

You, Darkness

by Rainer Maria Rilke

You, darkness, that I come from

I love you more than all the fires

that fence in the world, 

for the fire makes a circle of light for everyone

and then no one outside learns of you. 

But the darkness pulls in everything -

shapes and fires, animals and myself, 

how easily it gathers them! -

powers and people -

and it is possible a great presence is moving near me. 

I have faith in nights.

I wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season and peace, health and prosperity in the New Year.

Amy Roby can be reached at ranchosroundup@hotmail.com