Moon to be eclipsed for second time this year

The Unites States won promises for more than $13 billion in Iraqi aid funding over the next five years at a donors' conference in Madrid, Spain on Friday, Oct. 24. The money will go toward the reconstruction of power, water. and health care, among others, according to the New York Times.

North Korea considers Bush's offer of security

North Korean officials said they would consider President Bush's offer of security for the dissolution of their nuclear weaponry program on Saturday, Oct. 25. The North Korean government dismissed the offer earlier in the week as "laughable," according to the New York Times.

Helicopter downed, S soldien killed Five U.S. soldiers were wounded when

Tour lunar eclipses are rare and only come twice a year.

CHRISTINA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER CMW722@CABRINJ.EDU

As students walk outside at approximately 9:30 p.m., on Nov. 8, they will get a chance to see a total lunar eclipse. This will be the second lunar eclipse of the year. The last total lunar eclipse took place on Thursday, May 15, 2003.

The first recorded eclipse was thousands of years ago, between the years 3000 and 4000 B.C. Eclipses only happen when someone on the globe can see them. Therefore, eclipses are not happening all the time.

There are several stages to an eclipse. The first stage is when the moon enters the Earth's penumbra. However, the total eclipse happens when the moon enters the Earth's umbra.

There can never be more than two eclipses in any given year, according to Dr. Joseph Smith, astrology professor.

"The only way we could have more then two eclipses per year would be if the moon were about five degrees out of coplanarity with the orbital plane of the Earth around the sun," Smith said. This means if the alignment is not correct then there could be multiple eclipses.

Dr. Smith said, "There will come a day when total lunar eclipses will not be seen because the moon is slowly moving away from the Earth." The explanation Dr. Smith gave for the moon is moving away from the Earth in small increments was "In order to conserve angular momentum."

An example of this concept

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would be to imagine a top spinning. Just before the top starts to fall over the spinning gradually slows down.

Most students do not know that there is an eclipse coming. When Jen Doyle, early-childhood education major, said, "I didn't know about the eclipse until just now. I'm not sure if I'll go see it but I am interested in astronomy and all its aspects."

Junior Mary Hazel, communication major, said, "I didn't even know there was an eclipse. Chances are I will be out and about and will forget to look for the eclipse." Denise Saveoz, early-childhood/elementary education major, said, "I had no idea there was an eclipse. I might look for it but it's ok if I miss it because I've seen one before."

an Army Black Hawk helicopter was shot , down neat Tikrit, Iraq on Saturday, Oct. 25. The helicopter was brought down by what is believed to be a rocket•propelled grenade, according to the New YorkTimes.

Church advertising banned from Times Square Billboard

An ad for the Methodist Church was banned from the glowing billboards of Times Square. The church contracted to run a the owner of the billboard. said they do not "accept religious advertising," according to the Washington Post.

Baghdad hotel bombed,-deputy defense secretary not hurt

The .Rashid Hotel, in Baghdad, Iraq, was bombed early Sunday morning, Oct. 26. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowicz was a patron of the hotel at the time, but be was not hurt, according to the New YorkTimes.

Commission to subpoena 9/11 file from oval office

A commission investigating the circumstances surrounding the attacks on Sept. 11 is prepared to subpoena files in the Oval Office. Officials say the government is "withholding highly classified intelligence documents," according to the New York Times.

Wildfire destroys more than 250 homes

A wildfire east of San Bernardino, Calif., has destroyed more than 250 houses since it erupted on Saturday, Oct. 25. Almost 800 firefighters were called in to deal with the ffames that threat• ened more then 1,000 houses and was fed by winds reaching 45 miles per hour and higher, according to the New YorkTimes.

34 killed in series of attcks in Baghdad

More than 34 people were killed in a seemingly coordinated series of attacks in central Baghdad, Iraq on Monday, Oct. 27. The suicide bombers wounded more than 220 people when they targeted the International Committee oftbe Red Cross, according to the British Broadcasting Company.

Conjoined Egyptian twins' condition upgraded Ahmed and Mohamed Ibrahim, Egyptian twins joined at the head from birth, were upgraded from "serious to guarded" after their separation on Sunday.Oct. 12. The marathon procedure took more·than 34 hours, according to the New YorkTimes

Sharon: Israel is not•plannlng to kill Arafat

1sraeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced that Israel is not trying to ktll Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, though it is trying to remove him from power. Among other options is to confine Arafat to his West Banks compound in RamaJlah, according to the New YOikTunes.