Benefits of Living at Corkscrew Eclipse any Downsides

One of the really interesting and unique aspects of being an intern at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is that we live on the property. Our rustic cabin housing is nestled in the pine flatwood habitat near the research lab and the director’s office. Our Corkscrew home even has a name: the Gator Hole. It is an enjoyable experience working and living with my fellow interns. We all really get along and become friends during our time here.

Living at Corkscrew definitely has some perks. We have a very short commute to work, we see wildlife in our yard (one intern even saw a panther right outside the Gator Hole), and we have access to the boardwalk and other parts of the property almost all the time. This includes being able to experience Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary at nighttime, something that is a rare opportunity for guests. The remote location of Corkscrew makes it a dark sky site and an excellent stargazing location. 

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary boardwalk at night. Image credit: RJ Wiley.

This past Sunday night into Monday morning we were able to observe the only total lunar eclipse that will occur this year. This lunar eclipse was only visible in North and South America as well as western parts of Europe and Africa. Lunar eclipses happen when the sun, Earth, and moon align during a full moon. The moon moves into the shadow of the Earth resulting in a lunar eclipse. The moon during this eclipse was referred to as a “supermoon” because the moon was closest to Earth in its orbit, making the moon seem larger and brighter. 

The moon orbits the earth in an ellipse shape bringing it closer and farther to Earth. The farthest point in the ellipse is called the apogee and the closest point is called the perigee. A “supermoon” appears larger because its an average of 40,000 km closer to Earth. Image source: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Lunar eclipses also turn the moon a reddish hue and people call them “blood moons.” This is caused by the same effect that gives sunrises and sunsets their reddish orange colors. Small molecules in the atmosphere scatter blue light making the sky blue, leaving behind red light that refracts in the Earth’s shadow.

As the moon is covered by the Earth’s shadow, it turns a reddish orange color. Image source: NASA.

I was able to convince interns Randi and Kendall to stay up with me and watch the eclipse. The full moon before the eclipse was beautiful in itself. It was so bright we could easily see in the dark. Around 10:40 p.m., the partial eclipse started as the Earth shadowed the moon. We periodically stepped outside every 10 to 20 minutes to watch the progress of the eclipse. As the eclipse continued, the sky became darker revealing hundreds of stars that were previously out shined by the moon. Finally, just past midnight, the full eclipse occurred with a beautiful dark red moon. 

I have always been fascinated by space and I love stargazing. I was glad I was able to see this amazing astrological event and share it with the other interns. The next total lunar eclipse won’t be visible in North America again until 2022, so we were lucky to be able to watch it and in such optimal viewing conditions. Just another benefit of living at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary!

-Amy, Education Intern

You can learn more about the lunar eclipse in this NASA article: How to Watch the Only Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019, Plus a Supermoon