Dark of the Moon
Posted by: Loren Coleman on February 20th, 2008
On Wednesday, February 20, 2008, beginning at 10:01 EST, 9:01 CST, 8:01 MST, 7:01 p.m. PST, etc., the moon will move completely under the shadow of the Earth in a total lunar eclipse. The eclipse can be seen in the Americas, Europe, and Africa. Hope for good weather because the next total lunar eclipse won’t happen until December 2010.
The moon will be completely under Earth’s shadow for about 50 minutes. During this time, the moon won’t be completely obscured because of indirect light coming from the Earth’s atmosphere. But the moon will appear to change colors from light gray to orange or deep red. The shade depends on the amount of dust and clouds in the Earth’s atmosphere.
Remarkably, there has been a good history of sightings of cryptids, including Bigfoot, during the New Moon, when there is no illumination from the moon.
Will there perchance be any observations on the seas or in the wilderness areas during this total lunar eclipse?
Due to the strong past correlation between good sightings and no light from the moon, can we expect anything tonight?
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
Thanks for the reminder slipped my mind
Strong chance of thunderstorms in the Houston area tomorrow evening and cloudy the rest of the night. I will be bummed if I miss the eclipse. Too bad it doesn’t happen over the weekend. I did however have a terrific view of the ISS and Shuttle flying overhead yesterday. That was a site to see!
I hope someone somewhere can get a good sighting of a cryptid on the dark moon night!
Anything is possible!
It is definitely interesting as it is generally the full moon that predators prefer as it allows them easier hunting.
Most prey species are generally more relaxed when there is a new moon.
Just thinking about this, it may explain why a lot of the creatures of mythology such as the Wolf man etc seem to be associated with the full moon.
It would be interesting to see if creatures such as the dog man are seen more often during the full moon than as the moon waxes and wanes.
It would also be interesting to see if there is a correlation between Bigfoot sightings and the moon, or even Bigfoot vocalisations and the moon.
In the natural rhythms of the world the moon plays a very important part.
Hopefully the sky will be cloudless in KY. The last lunar eclipse was one of the loveliest I have ever seen because the moon was so close to the horizon and the sky was so clear.
If I recall correctly, the Dover Demon was sighted only 3 days after the new moon back in 1977.
It always struck me that it must have been pretty dark when John Baxter had his encounter. I have no idea how he managed to make out the details he talks about (e.g., “feet mold to rocks”, “hands gripping tree”) when he would have just had star shine and urban light pollution to go by.
Loren, you were out there in 1977. Do you know if there were any other light sources during Baxter’s sighting?
They’re gonna put telescopes in Mexico city’s central square, which I think is a great idea. Unfortunately I won’t be able to attend, since it’s pretty far from the office, and I gotta attend to my grailer responsibilities, but I sure hope I will be able to catch a glimpse from my office’s parking lot 🙂
I shall listen for lupine howls.
It’s amazing when you think about it, many predatory species prefer a full moon to hunt making prey species easier to see. When we think about mythological creatures such as werewolves and vampires etc they are often associated with the full moon.
It makes me curious as to whether reports of creatures such as dog men (a probable predator) increased during the full moon.
It also makes me wonder how sightings of Bigfoot and their vocalisations correspond to phases of the moon.
Perhaps an interesting line of study.
Tony Lucas
New Zealand cryptozoologist
I did not know THAT about the Dover Demon, NELTANA.
Interesting.
I wonder if Loren would comment on your question.
Well, the only reason I know about the moon phase is that I’m writing a story where two of the characters are arguing about the Dover Demon sightings. It gave me occasion to look at a lot of details like that.
Living in Western Mass, I always felt a strange affinity for that little mangy bipedal possum.
Back from northern Maine…neltana, are you kidding? I was the primary (and first) investigator of the Dover Demon case, and the one who coined the name “Dover Demon.”
The light source for two of the three eyewitnesses, of course, were car headlights. If you will recall, regarding the Baxter sighting, he said what he saw was mostly in shadows and in silhouette. The gully and row of trees that Baxter noted was bordering a large open area that served as a contrasting space that gathered light and looked “brighter” than the area where he was standing. Therefore, Baxter’s sighting had more contrast than any other of the sightings, and lots of evidence exists for why he described his Dover Demon in grays and blacks, instead of with any colorful descriptors.
Loren,
Well, of course I know you were the PI…why else would I have asked you? I certainly don’t know the answer!
It’s primarily the detail of the toes molding the rocks that has always struck me as curious. The lighter contrast was, of course, behind the demon. One would assume the toes would be in more shadow, even if the rocks were light colored. Light colored things in shadow are still dark.
I guess what I’m wondering is if there is any possibility that Baxter added in that detail after he saw Bartlett’s sketch…perhaps unconsciously. After all, the carefully labeled sketch of his isn’t the one he did that night, right?
But, you were there in 1977, and I figure you stood in the spot and considered this. If you say that there was enough ambient light to see toes, I believe you.
But I doubt the skeptic in the story I’m writing will…he’s completely unreasonable!
Well out here in the Iowa tundra, it’s below zero tonight, so methinks I will not be in the search for BF…however, I will remember that for future warmer nights…
There is some correlation between bigfoot-like sightings and UFO reports. One seems to stimulate the other.
You know that mangy bipedal possum was a joke, right? Bipedal possums rarely develop mange.
It is my understanding that Baxter had not looked at Bartlett’s drawing when Baxter made his.
Nevertheless, I am not the eyewitness, only an investigator, so as to what was seen when, the ultimate authority is the one seeing it, not the reporter of same.
Honestly it could be a chicken/egg thing. More people are out on full moons or looking outside.
Or perhaps BFs move around more on full moons because of better light to see or both.
Of course, according to Dennis Hall, there is direct correlation between moon phases and sightings of Champ on Champlain.