Crowds flock to see total lunar eclipse

CINCINNATI -- Sky-watchers in every continent but Australia reveled in the relative rarity of a total lunar eclipse Saturday night -- but as stargazers have noted for centuries, it was a matter of celestial perspective.

"From the moon, they're having a solar eclipse," said Dean Regas, an astronomer at the Cincinnati Observatory Center.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon, Earth and sun are in alignment and the moon passes through the planet's shadow. In a solar eclipse, the Earth is in the moon's shadow.

The Cincinnati Observatory, which claims to be the oldest in the United States, was founded in 1842 and has been in its current location on the city's east side since 1871.

It had one of its biggest nights ever Saturday, as officials estimated about 800 people stood in line for a chance to peer through the observatory's telescope.

Outside, amateur astronomers set up telescopes on one of the city's highest promontories. Bill Lewis, a 53-year old computer programmer from suburban Montgomery, declared the viewing a success.

"It's a good one, because the sky is so clear," he said, adjusting the focus on his new $500 rig. "I thought there would be about 10 of us crazies out here, but look at the crowd."

Lunar eclipses are expected on May 4 and Oct. 28 next year, but the first will not be visible from North America, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.