Signs in the Sky

Just pondering how much folks knew about the sky in the Old West. Did they understand moon or sun eclipse, especially the moon turning red like it will this evening?

Did the Indians understand?
What about the pioneers or cowboys?

Pondering our boys out on the trail and seeing the red moon... What would be their reaction?

I believe the American pioneers and their descendants would have had a vast knowledge of the skies. These people who spent a large portion of their lives out doors navigating the oceans, trails, an American desert often using the stars points of reference. The earliest settlers also were known to have adopted tHe names the Native Americans gave the different months or the moons, at least. And of course, do not forget the hodge podge mixing pot that makes up our country and all the various superstitions which have been hot come through the generations with many of the superstitions being based on astronomy and the cycles of the moon.  so, yes I think they would've been fully aware of several of the questions you presented

These are interesting questions.  I think at least some, if not most, late 19th century Americans would have had a basic understanding of astronomy given the emphasis on classical education even in grade school, although the amateur study of it was mostly a hobby of privilege, as telescopes were expensive (see relevant portions of the index in this rather long article, http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2773&context=etd).  As Wichita pointed out, those in the West used the sky as a guide, sort of their GPS.  Myths might have abounded still, but presumably enough was known to not jump to too many conclusions.

I once read the Native Americans had an entire colorful mythology built around astronomical events.  A quick search yielded the following:

"The eclipse myth told by the Hupa, a Native American tribe from northern California, has a happ[y] ending.

The Hupa believed the moon had 20 wives and a lot of pets, says Krupp. Most of those pets were mountain lions and snakes, and when the moon didn't bring them enough food to eat, they attacked and made him bleed. The eclipse would end when the moon's wives would come in to protect him, collecting his blood and restoring him to health, Krupp says.

To the Luiseño tribe of southern California, an eclipse signaled that the moon was ill, says Krupp. It was tribe members' job to sing chants or prayers to bring it back to health."

(Excerpted from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/04/140413-total-lunar-eclipse-myths-space-culture-science/ )

Given our boys' practicality, I doubt they would have given too much credence to mythology or been spooked by a red moon, whether or not they understood the actual cause.  However, let us not forget the hysteria associated with the appearance of Halley's Comet in 1910 ( http://www.moonphases.info/the-great-comet-scare-of-1910.html ).  The following has an interesting note regarding Mark Twain and Mr. Halley's Comet -- http://www.wired.com/2009/05/dayintech_0519/ .

Finally, those familiar with the early years of Bonanza might remember the episode, "Look to the Stars," about the young Albert Michelson, who grew up in mining camps in California and Nevada and went on to win the Nobel Prize for Physics.  It's an interesting look at how those unfamiliar with astronomy might have reacted in that time and place (although it has a specific bent unrelated to this topic).  ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Abraham_Michelson )