Dear Editor,
The lunar eclipse of March 3 took place as scheduled, but it was mostly invisible from Georgetown because of the clouds on the horizon and of the haze higher up, which only allowed the moon to be seen as it emerged from shadow. I heard it was only a little better in New Amsterdam.
A keen observer on the east coast Demerara reported that there was a large perfect circle surrounding the full moon after it reappeared at 9:12 pm This was an atmospheric halo caused by refraction of light through a thick layer of ice crystals, which had obscured the eclipsed moon, and which fell as rain the following day along our coast.
I take the opportunity to congratulate you on getting that diagram of the constellation Leo into print. Your detractors cannot fault you for this evidence of technical professionalism, to which I can testify.
The good news is that Leo, hardly visible during the eclipse, and Saturn are still up. In the early evening by the end of this month they should be about half-way up in the eastern sky; by the end of April, almost overhead.
Yours faithfully,
Alfred Bhulai
