GUERNSEY and Alderney residents could be dancing in different shades of moonlight at the weekend. A dispute has broken out between two respected astronomers over the expected colour of tomorrow’s lunar eclipse.

Guernseyman David Le Conte, who represents the astronomy section of La Societe Guernesiaise, was adamant the moon would take on a dark-red hue.

But Alderney stargazer Mike Maunder has put his cards on the table and predicted it will be blue.

‘My hunch, my gut reaction, is that dust thrown up in China from the Gobi Desert will give the moon a blue colour,’ said Mr Maunder, who has written two books with famed star man Patrick Moore.

‘Sometimes, when the moon is fully eclipsed, it can appear grey or blue and sometimes almost vanish from sight completely. I have some insider knowledge which suggests it will be blue.’

Mr Le Conte said he had never heard of such a phenomenon.

‘I’ve got a lot of respect for Michael Maunder, but I’ve never experienced or seen a blue eclipse of the moon,’ he said.

‘It usually appears a deep, blood-red colour because of light being refracted and filtered through the earth’s atmosphere.’

A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth stops the sun’s light reaching the moon. It is still lit by indirect sunlight, but as the rays pass through the earth’s atmosphere most of the blue spectrum is filtered out, leaving the moon a deep-red hue.

Mr Maunder believed it might have a blue tinge due to increased dust in the atmosphere caused by climate change.

‘It is a good indicator of global warming these days. Sand from the Gobi Desert almost reached Beijing last year and the dust created many strange changes in the climate,’ he said.

‘I hope he (Mr Le Conte) is right. If he is, then I’ll be happy because it will mean the desertification in China is not as bad as I think it is.’

Mr Le Conte will be watching the eclipse from the Societe’s observatory and is interested to see what the outcome will be.

Both Guernsey and Alderney are excellent spots for observing stars due to the low levels of atmospheric and light pollution.

Mr Le Conte suggested islanders watch from their gardens between 10 and 11.30pm.

It is unusual for a total lunar eclipse to occur at that time – most take place in the early hours of the morning. Islanders are advised to make the most of it as the next completely visible evening eclipse will not occur until 2029.

LUNAR ECLIPSE TIMETABLE

9.30pm – partial eclipse begins

10.43pm – total eclipse begins

11.20pm – maximum extent

11.58pm – total eclipse ends

1.11am – partial eclipse ends