August 27, 2026: Phoebus and Phoebe have it out at 12:13 PDT
[1]
Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth’s umbra is cast onto the moon’s surface. Measured at the moon, the Earth’s umbra has a diameter of 9200 kilometers. However, the moon has a diameter of only 3474 kilometers. Much of the Earth’s umbra passes by the moon, into deep space and far beyond.
The U.S. west coast witnessed a “blood moon” eclipse on August 27, 2026. Technically, sanguinity aside, it was a deep-partial lunar eclipse. Measured in Ashland, Oregon, the umbra covered 95.8713046% of the moon’s surface. Only a thin crescent or sliver of the moon was visible above the umbra.
Assuming that the event was two-dimensional or coplanar, find the distance d.
A correct answer sent to [email protected] [2] could win a Tucker’s gift card.
Last week’s [3] winner was Lian Wong with an angle measure of 23 degrees.
(Use of AI to solve this problem is strictly prohibited.)
Jeff Smith is a former Math teacher and a retired US Navy Lieutenant Commander. Reach him at [email protected] [2].