BajaNomad

TOTAL Lunar Eclipse on Winter Solstice, Dec. 20/21

bryanmckenzie - 12-8-2010 at 06:17 PM

Starts at 10:30 pm (PST) on Dec 20!

CLICK HERE for large graphic.

This TOTAL lunar eclipse will last a whopping 72 minutes! Sorry about the large image at the bottom. It indicates PST phases.

"For observers in western North America and Hawaii, the eclipse actually begins on
the evening of December 20. At the instant of greatest eclipse the moon lies near the zenith for
observers in southern California and Baja Mexico." Ref.: http://www.mreclipse.com/LEdata/TLE2010Dec21/TLE2010Dec21.ht...

Also, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Penumbral Eclipse Begins: 05:29:17 UT
Partial Eclipse Begins: 06:32:37 UT
Total Eclipse Begins: 07:40:47 UT
Greatest Eclipse: 08:16:57 UT
Total Eclipse Ends: 08:53:08 UT
Partial Eclipse Ends: 10:01:20 UT
Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 11:04:31 UT





[Edited on 2010-12-21 by bryanmckenzie]

vandy - 12-9-2010 at 04:09 PM

Thank you! What a "Longest Night" party that will be!

bryanmckenzie - 12-20-2010 at 04:23 PM

IT'S TONIGHT!, the first time in nearly 400 (!) years that a lunar eclipse is coinciding with Solstice.

Unfortunately in the Palm Springs area, it's raining with very heavy, thick cloud layer. I hope those of you further down in Baja have an awesome view!

And take pictures!

krafty - 12-20-2010 at 06:36 PM

We had an eclipse even before the sun went down here in Rosarito-really quite fugly out

David K - 12-20-2010 at 06:45 PM

It is a monsoon here in Oceanside, as well! You guys in southern Baja enjoy it!:wow:

BajaBlanca - 12-20-2010 at 07:01 PM

man alive ... and we are going to miss it since we are in san diego ... it is so cludy and rainy and cold - what a wake up call !! take me back to paradise !!

bajalorena - 12-20-2010 at 09:19 PM

OK, my husband has already been out to take pictures, just setting the stage for the eclipse, wanting to get palms in the frame. We will see what happens. If they are any good, we will post them.
Hoping others will do the same.

Russ - 12-20-2010 at 10:51 PM

The show is expected to last 3 1/2 hours, beginning about 11:15 MST tonight. The totality phase — when the moon is entirely inside Earth's shadow — will last a little over an hour and begins at 12:41 a.m. MST Tuesday.
The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_16900808#ixzz18ipy9Wb6
So I set the alarm and went out to fog! Not too bad but I'm an hour early:fire:

longlegsinlapaz - 12-20-2010 at 11:19 PM

Oh good!!! Russ is staying up to capture it!! :bounce:

You have a MUCH better zoom lens than I do....hmmmmm....300 vs 13?! :lol: Clear as a bell here....with an enormous ring around the moon now.

Russ - 12-21-2010 at 08:13 AM

I stayed up through the 1st half of the eclipse. A light fog had come in so the images are not as sharp as I'd hoped for. As the shadow covered the moon I had to adjust the shutter speed and f stop and without a proper tripod they blurred even more. The moon was almost directly over head so even with a tripod I'd have had to sit on the ground. At that time in the morning that wasn't going to happen. So with excuses for my marginal photographic talent here's what I save from almost 100 shots.
about 7pm

The start



























Last

krafty - 12-21-2010 at 08:15 AM

Great shots! would never have seen this here last night-thanks for posting!

David K - 12-21-2010 at 08:19 AM

Thanks Russ... :yes:

bryanmckenzie - 12-21-2010 at 08:41 AM

THANKS Russ! Nothing but clouds & rain here. Next solstice lunar eclipse sometime near 2090, I think.

longlegsinlapaz - 12-21-2010 at 08:41 AM

Great shots Russ.....I'm now deleting all mine! :lol::lol:

Amazing !

djh - 12-21-2010 at 09:31 AM

Thx for the amazing photos, Russ.

We bundled up and watched it here in N. Idaho. brrrrrrrrr...

A thin layer of clouds drifting past, which added an element of mystery to it.....

We kept one eye on alert for vampires and warewolves....

:o

djh

Mexitron - 12-21-2010 at 12:13 PM

Nice shots Russ, especially considering the conditions.

DianaT - 12-21-2010 at 12:23 PM

Good job!

Thanks for getting up

El Jefe - 12-21-2010 at 12:50 PM

Got up middle of the night to see the moon looking just like Russ' first shot. An unusual sandy brown color (lit by Earth's reflection), not at all like the bright silvery-white moon we usually see. And the coolest thing was that the sky was FULL of stars, just like a moonless night. There just to the left of the moon was Orion in all his glory and a zillion other stars filling the sky. Very cool. OK, check that experience off, take a pee, and back to bed.

David K - 12-21-2010 at 01:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by El Jefe
Got up middle of the night to see the moon looking just like Russ' first shot. An unusual sandy brown color (lit by Earth's reflection), not at all like the bright silvery-white moon we usually see. And the coolest thing was that the sky was FULL of stars, just like a moonless night. There just to the left of the moon was Orion in all his glory and a zillion other stars filling the sky. Very cool. OK, check that experience off, take a pee, and back to bed.


Excellent observation description Tom!:lol:

bryanmckenzie - 12-21-2010 at 08:26 PM

Did anyone way down the peninsula (cape) get any shots?
And do they look any different (color?) than "up north" ??