Total Luner Eclipse

I got a clear view!  Pictures from my backyard...

2:11 AM:  Beforehand, the moon is too bright for my camera to handle -- it completely washes out into a pure white disk.

3:08 AM:  A small cloud passes as the top left corner of the moon begins to darken.

3:32 AM:  More than half of the moon has already fallen into shadow.

3:45 AM:  Only the southern tip of the moon shines.

3:51 AM:  Still glowing within the penumbra, the moon darkens further as the umbra begins to creep across its surface.

4:20 AM:  Umbra.  Shadow.  The moon smolders like a dying ember, providing no light.  The stars, formerly drowned out by the moon's brilliance, now shine as on any moonless night.

4:37 AM.

4:55 AM:  The umbra shifts to the southeastern side and the northwestern region becomes lighter, now in the penumbra.

5:35 AM:  The moon returns!  And just as the sky begins to lighten.  Good news, villagers -- the moon has not been swallowed up forever by a horrible moon-eating demon, and the sun returns as well.  I guess we all prayed hard enough -- this time.

I took these on my 6 megapixel Panasonic Lumix camera, which despite its limitations performed well enough.  Tripods work wonders.

5:38 AM.   

Comments

[Randy from Florida]

very nice

kool

[Jerry]

Hey:
Thanks for the great photos. I wanted to get up and do the same but lacked the motivation.
I enjoyed reading your blog and salute your efforts to clean up. So few do these days.
Keep it up!