Total Lunar Eclipse

Science at Parramatta High
Total Eclipse of the Moon
— 28 August 2007 —

Lunar eclipses are so relaxing. Everything proceeds at such a leisurely pace - compared to the frantic activity at a solar eclipse.
This one was particularly lovely - deep red and entirely untroubled by clouds.
(Never mind the trees, TV antennae, house roofs...)

You may view slightly larger versions of the shots below by clicking on them.

The penumbral eclipse was well under way at 6:35pm, but I couldn't see it.

Below we have the much awaited Iridium flare during the eclipse (as predicted).
Sigghhh... I love trees - but.
This is a 30 second exposure - long enough to completely wash out the moon. The Iridium flare is visible - albeit behind the trees - but I was 15 seconds late in tripping the shutter. Hence I only have the tail end of the flare...
...but that's better than nothing.

Move your mouse over the image (wait a bit) and some more information will appear.

	The beginning of the umbral eclipse was easy to spot.
	...as it gradually made its way up the face of the moon.
	At the halfway point the red tinge was easy to spot on the dark side.
	Just before totality the moon appeared to have acquired a polar cap!
	At totality the moon was both deep red and quite dark. The colour was not as constant as I had expected.

Widefield view during totality

	At the end of totality the bright edge made its way back at the lower right-hand edge of the moon
	After the dullness of totality, the edge of the moon which peeked into sunlight was almost blindingly bright.
	At 10:25 it was almost all over - bar the photo-processing.

(This montage only approximately portrays actual movement across the sky.)

TECHNICAL NOTES
The telephoto shots were taken with a Pentax dSLR, through a Meade ETX, 1250mm f.l., f/13.8. ISO set to 1600. Exposures varied from 1 to 1/1000 second. Some of the above frames are HDR combinations of two or three frames.

The widefield shots were taken with a Nikon D50, through a Tokina 12-24mm wide angle zoom. Exposures as indicated.

Next time I plan to concentrate (more) on shots at totality, maybe with equatorial tracking.
Stay tuned.

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of this frame.