The Big Picture: Moon Dance

For the event, the U of I Astronomical Society opened up the U of I Observatory, which was constructed in 1896. (Image by Fred Zwicky)

Nov. 18, 2021 was a marvelous night for a moon dance. A partial lunar eclipse of this length and magnitude had not occurred since 1440 and won’t happen again until Feb. 8, 2669. The ideal spot on campus to celebrate this celestial phenomenon was the U of I Observatory, although telescopes also dotted the Quad as onlookers watched the eclipse from multiple vantage points.