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大家將在本周六欣賞一次月蝕。在1504年，也出現過一次月出時發生的月蝕，它更把走投無路的哥倫布拯救過來。在1502年，哥倫布第四次（也是最後一次）遠航新大陸，但其船艦卻受船蛆蛀蝕而被迫在牙買加島停留。船隊在等待救援期間利用船上物資向土著換取食物；但數月後物資耗盡，加上雙方不時爭執，土著不願再提供食物。
哥倫布最終在曆書找到解決方法。原來曆書算出在1054年2月29日會發生月全蝕，哥倫布遂以這次天象為籌碼，與土著展開談判。他向酋長宣稱，其所信奉的神不滿土著的自私行為，3日後月亮會變成血紅色，天譴亦將降臨。當月亮升出地平時，預言應驗，土著大為驚恐，急忙請來哥倫布向神求情。哥倫布答允後便躲入船艙，待月蝕將結束便及時出現，並向土著宣布神已原諒他們。土著為答謝哥倫布，便繼續向他們提供食物。
A Lunar Eclipse that Saved Columbus
In 1502 Christopher Columbus set sail on his fourth and last voyage to America. Unluckily shipworms plagued his fleet and he was forced to beach at Jamaica. Initially, the natives supplied them with food in exchange for their goods. But as the goods became exhausted, the supply was discontinued.
Columbus read from the Almanac that on February 29, 1504, a total lunar eclipse would take place at moonrise. He told the native chief that the Christian god was angry with his people. To show his displeasure, the rising full moon would appear "inflamed with wrath" and his tribe would be cursed. When the eclipse did took place 3 days later, the natives prayed to Columbus to intercede with his god. Columbus pretended to consent. Just before the end of the eclipse he announced that the god had pardoned them. To show their gratitude the natives kept Columbus and his men well fed. ■甄枝強 資深天文愛好者
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