Last Total Lunar Eclipse for 3 YEARS!

[BC_MoM]

I AM SO EXCITED! :D Especially to take photos.

Date: February 20, 2008


A Lunar Eclipse takes place at a Full Moon when the Moon moves into the shadow of the Earth cast by the Sun. This takes place at the same instant for all observers, but the LOCAL time on the clock depends on your time zone!

In North America (Canada & the US), the Total Eclipse takes place during:

Newfoundland ~ 11:30 p.m. - 12:21 a.m.
Atlantic ~ 11:00 - 11:51 p.m.
Eastern ~ 10:00 - 10:51 p.m.
Central ~ 9:00 - 9:51 p.m.
Mountain ~ 8:00 - 8:51 p.m.
Pacific ~ 7:00 - 7:51 p.m.

MEXICO, Central America and the Caribbean include all time zones listed above, so if you're not sure which time zone you're in, just keep your eyes on the skies from 7pm until midnight!

South American time zones range from UTC (GMT) -5 to -3, so the time will be from 10pm until 1am.

In Europe and Africa ~ 3:00 a.m. - 3:51 a.m. UTC (GMT) in the early morning of February 21

Look 1 hour 20 minutes before and after to see the partial phases. In Western regions, the Moon may rise partially eclipsed.

You don't have to go to any special place to see the eclipse, as long as you can see the Moon from where you are: front porch, backyard, walking down the street.

To the left of the Moon you will see the planet Saturn.

It may help to look for the Moon on the night before, so you know roughly what part of the sky to look in. On eclipse night, the Moon will be further East and a little lower in the sky, compared to the previous night. But don't worry...a near-Full Moon is hard to miss, even in the city!

IS IT SAFE TO LOOK AT? SHOULD I BE WEARING PROTECTION?
Not only can you view a Lunar Eclipse with the naked eye, it's absolutely amazing when viewed through binoculars. Better yet, you should try watching it through a telescope. Incredible. THERE WON'T BE ANOTHER FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS, so you don't want to miss it!

3 years? BUT I JUST SAW ONE IN AUGUST!
Yes, there was a Total Eclipse on August 28, 2007. Eclipses run in cycles, as the moon does. Although there will be a few partial eclipses over the next few years, the next Total Eclipse won't be until December 21, 2010, when we will have 3 more Total Eclipses in a row over a 12 month period.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Date: February 20, 2008

THERE WON'T BE ANOTHER FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS, so you don't want to miss it!

Eclipses run in cycles, as the moon does.
Although there will be a few partial eclipses over the next few years, t
he next Total Eclipse won't be until December 21, 2010, when we will have
3 more Total Eclipses in a row over a 12 month period.

I didn't know all that ... THANKS!!

And thank you (NOT) to the Weatherman ... Ohio's outlook >>>

Wednesday: Snow likely, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 24.
West wind between 5 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Wednesday Night: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy,
with a low around 9. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Oh well, we'll go out and take a *peek*.

;)

[BC_MoM]

Ya never know, Phred! We were cloudy during the eclipse in August but every now and then the clouds separated and we were able to see! :D

[Jessika]

Oooh yeah I have my alarm set and camera batteries charged!

[chocolatepuppy]

Thanks! I'll be watching for it! ;)

[RICHARD]

THanks.....

It's overcast here in El Lay.... :rolleyes:

[smokey the elder]

Total lunar eclipses are so cool! I remember when I was in grad school, there was one at between 1 and 4 AM. I went to a park with a bunch of friends and watched it. Since I was drinking Mountain Dew all night, I went to the lab for awhile afterwords, and really screwed up my schedule for a few days!

[pitc9]

I'll peek outside tonight!

[Cinder & Smoke]

It's now 9:10 pm EASTERN Time - but the time doesn't matter -

The MOON is going :eek: DARK - RIGHT NOW!

Tonight's TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE has begun!

No matter where you live, or what time zone you're in ~ it's HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW!

Bundle up and trott outside ...

in approx. 45 minutes - at 1 minute past the next hour -
the Moon will be completely shadowed by our Big Dirt Ball -
the Moon will stay behind the Earth's shadow for about 51 minutes -
it will start to reappear at 52 minutes past the next hour.

ENJOY!
I'm goin back to Moon-Watchin ...

:D

[CountryWolf07]

I see it! I see it!

I've NEVER seen it in my life, and I'm excited! :)

[BC_MoM]

Taken about 15 minutes ago. My fingers are frozen! :(

http://i26.tinypic.com/2qmnt4j.jpg

[chocolatepuppy]

Bundle up and trott outside ...
Uh, seeing as it's 12 degrees out I'm watching through my windows. ;) I'm sure I'll be out with the dogs though before it's over. It's really something to see. :cool:

[CountryWolf07]

Taken about 15 minutes ago. My fingers are frozen! :(

http://i26.tinypic.com/2qmnt4j.jpg

Goodness gracious - that is BEAUTIFUL! :)

I tried taking a picture with mine but it failed.. I guess I will deal with my memory of seeing one!

[crazyboutanimals]

it is sooo foggy out and you can not see a thing :mad: .. dang inversion :mad:

[crazyboutanimals]

my local news is live streaming it right now :D :D :D

for those who can not see it... here is the link

http://www.myfoxutah.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=5836045&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

[Cinder & Smoke]

:)

g-g-g-G-G-GGGOSH, it's DARK outside! :eek:

AND ... purdy darn c-c-c-c-C-C-CCCOLD, too!

NICE photo Shootin, Jess!!!!

I think I was <<<shivverin>>> too much for my camera to even FIND the darn Moon!

Wish I'd warshed at least ONE window brfore this started! :mad:

Another *peek* ...
Well, it's not *gone* ... but it sure is DIM!

Mighty **purdy** --- Y'all go take a LOOK!

[Catlady711]

Downloading my 98 pix as we speak. I was fortunate that I could see the moon clearly from my picture windows. At least until a few minutes ago when it got too high to see from inside and it's WAY too cold to go outside. lol

I'll post a couple decent ones I've got in a few minutes. ;)

[ramanth]

Missed it! Dang!

Thanks for the great photo. :)

[RICHARD]

Dude.... The local rock station is playing Dark Side of the Moon right now. :D


The clouds just rolled in and it looks spooky now.

[k9krazee]

Great picture, Jessica!!

I managed to get a couple, even though I was pretty disappointed with the quality. It was still fun to watch!

http://www1.zoto.com/kangashrew13/img/original/c914e5eb1f03ddbd2ca89c554efad0e7.jpg

Part of the gang watching
http://www.zoto.com/kangashrew13/img/45/792e777f4523036f3c54cd3141a990b3.jpg

http://www.zoto.com/kangashrew13/img/45/dd3a25d569e4a0bf7d376d08f85ac38e.jpg

[Catlady711]

Ok sorted through 98 pix and here are a couple for ya. :)


http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l17/Catlady711/IMG_7565Small.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l17/Catlady711/IMG_7605Small.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l17/Catlady711/IMG_7647Small.jpg

[BC_MoM]

Great shots you two! :D

Here's the last picture I took.

http://i30.tinypic.com/23vas8l.jpg

[Cinder & Smoke]

WoooooooW!

:D

NICE SHOW, God!

And HEY ~~~

Looks like the Lil Green Men on the Moon scraped up enough coin to pay off their electric bill ~

The Moon Lights are coming back ON!

:)
:D

[Kfamr]

I didn't get much time to take pictures as it got cloudy quickly here. :( Here are three shots I managed to get - two of them being "oops, wrong setting dummy!" I think they came out pretty cool looking anyhow.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a194/frailwit/eclipes20081.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a194/frailwit/eclipes20082.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a194/frailwit/eclipes20083.jpg

[Jessika]

Jess -- WOW!!! I must say I tried to get some pics tonight but I still just don't know how to use my camera properly... plus my zoom is nothing... :( I just have the stock lens that comes with it. I really need to invest in a nicer lens with a bigger zoom.

We did have a telescope out there though but it was difficult to keep up with the rotation of the earth and once we lost the moon in it we had a hard time to keep finding it again, lol.

May I ask what techniques/materials you used to get your pics?? They really are fantastic!

[BC_MoM]

I used a tripod (only used the remote shutter button when the moon was red), but had to angle it and hold it myself because I couldn't get it to lock.

For the half moon shot I used:
f11
1/200
Metering spot
300mm focal length

And for the red moon shot I used:
f5.6
1/2
Metering spot
300mm focal length

It won't let me know what ISO I used, but I think for the first it was 800 and the second it was 1000.

Kay, those are neat shots!!! :D

[Catlady711]

I didn't use the camera meter, I shot all mine on manual with a tripod, mirror lock up, and self timer.

#1 - ISO 200 F/11 1/8 sec

#2 - ISO 800 F/5.6 .8 sec

#3 - ISO 1600 F/5.6 1/3 sec

I was shooting with a 300mm lens with a doubler on it (equivilent of a 600mm lens).

[kittycats_delight]

there was no sight of the moon here last night or this morning I should say at all. We were shrouded in mist and fog and not a star or moon could be seen in the sky. :( Needless to say I wasn't a very happy camper. I will have to just admire everyone else shots. :)

Glad some people got to enjoy it. :)

Michelle

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Beautifull pics!!!

At 3AM, I was sleeping like a rose :rolleyes: :D

[anna_66]

I did get to see some of it. Unfortunately we have no windows that would let me see if from inside so I had to go out in the cold, and man was it cold!
I did get a few shots (why didn't I think of using the self timer:o) but even with my tripod they turned out blurry.
But it was something to see!

Here's mine....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/anna66/P2200560.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/anna66/P2200558.jpg
This one would have been nice if I knew how to take better pictures:rolleyes:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/anna66/P2200556.jpg

[smokey the elder]

I woke up at 10:00 when it was nearing totality (mainly red) and I could see Saturn and Arcturus in very close conjunction. Wonderful astronomical eye candy!

[moosmom]

It was beautiful!! I got outta work just in time to see it. I only wish I had a pair of binoculars to see better.

[Argranade]

It was sooo beautiful lol.

I was getting pissed off because I never did night shots before but I did ok lol.


http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/Rainbowhuggs/phpBMSVL1AM.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/Rainbowhuggs/phpBPBWUeAM.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/Rainbowhuggs/phpbDSZ14AM.jpg

[Catlady711]

I was getting pissed off because I never did night shots before but I did ok lol.


I did get to see some of it. Unfortunately we have no windows that would let me see if from inside so I had to go out in the cold, and man was it cold!
I did get a few shots (why didn't I think of using the self timer:o) but even with my tripod they turned out blurry.
But it was something to see!

Here's mine....
This one would have been nice if I knew how to take better pictures:rolleyes:




You guys both did great for not having done moon shots before! :)

It will be a while before we have another lunar eclipse but you can practice for the next one.

The reason your pix were blurry (unsatisfactory) was probably due to a couple reasons based on the pix you two posted (this would apply to anyone with similar pix results)...

1) the shutter speed was too long. The moon moves pretty fast and anything much over 1/4 of a second will show motion blur. To get more light open up your aperature or use a higher ISO speed instead.

2) If your camera has the self timer use it to help minimize any shaking of the camera from you pushing the shutter button. If you have an RF cable release that works good too. (I was in a hurry so didn't use mine)

3) If your camera is a DSLR (or film SLR) if it has mirror lock up function, use it. What that does is lock the mirror up prior to the shutter button actually being pressed. When you press the shutter button the mirror doesn't have to go up first to get out of the way, it only has to drop AFTER your exposure is done. The advantage of doing this is any minor movement causes your pix to lose sharpness and if the mirror isn't having to move around before your exposure then it's going to be a sharper pix.

Regardless a tripod is a MUST for night shots like these. Oh and carry a small flashlight with you, I almost tripped over my tripod trying to work in a dark room with curious cats milling about. lol

If you want some practice for the next time, (wait till it's warmer out lol) and take your tripod outside at night and just try some moon shots and experiment. You don't need an eclipse to practice and we all know practice makes perfect.

I'm sure next eclipse we have you guys will be posting pix here to blow us all away! Of course then you'll have to frame them and enter them in contests and collect a whole lot of money in prizes... LOL

[Jessika]

You guys both did great for not having done moon shots before! :)

It will be a while before we have another lunar eclipse but you can practice for the next one.

The reason your pix were blurry (unsatisfactory) was probably due to a couple reasons based on the pix you two posted (this would apply to anyone with similar pix results)...

1) the shutter speed was too long. The moon moves pretty fast and anything much over 1/4 of a second will show motion blur. To get more light open up your aperature or use a higher ISO speed instead.

2) If your camera has the self timer use it to help minimize any shaking of the camera from you pushing the shutter button. If you have an RF cable release that works good too. (I was in a hurry so didn't use mine)

3) If your camera is a DSLR (or film SLR) if it has mirror lock up function, use it. What that does is lock the mirror up prior to the shutter button actually being pressed. When you press the shutter button the mirror doesn't have to go up first to get out of the way, it only has to drop AFTER your exposure is done. The advantage of doing this is any minor movement causes your pix to lose sharpness and if the mirror isn't having to move around before your exposure then it's going to be a sharper pix.

Regardless a tripod is a MUST for night shots like these. Oh and carry a small flashlight with you, I almost tripped over my tripod trying to work in a dark room with curious cats milling about. lol

If you want some practice for the next time, (wait till it's warmer out lol) and take your tripod outside at night and just try some moon shots and experiment. You don't need an eclipse to practice and we all know practice makes perfect.

I'm sure next eclipse we have you guys will be posting pix here to blow us all away! Of course then you'll have to frame them and enter them in contests and collect a whole lot of money in prizes... LOL
My in-laws followed nearly every one of your tips thanks to me except they didn't have a DSLR, just an advanced point-and-shoot, they still got some pretty decent pics... they wipped out ye olde tripod, I made the suggestion to use the timer so as not to shake the camera when pushing the button, NO FLASH, I think the only thing they couldn't do was set a longer shutter speed to allow in more light, but I did bump up the exposure.

[pitc9]

WOW! Great pictures everyone!
I missed it... I fell asleep in my recliner after American Idol was over! :o

Shame on me! :(

[Catlady711]

NO FLASH, I think the only thing they couldn't do was set a longer shutter speed to allow in more light, but I did bump up the exposure.

ROFL my first thought when I read the NO FLASH part was 'man that must be one powerful on camera flash to light the moon!' :p LOL Sorry I found that funny. I didn't even think about the pop up flash, I usually have mine turned off.

You wouldn't want a very long shutter speed anyways, much over 1/4 sec anyways. I was on manual and tried several settings just to see what they would do and if I got longer than 1/4 sec I tended to see blurring.

That's great that they were able to get some decent shots thanks to you. I don't think the actual camera matters, as long as it has some adjustments available (iso etc) and is on a tripod with self timer. I know many people think they have to have super expensive cameras to get good pix and that's just not true. A good understanding of the camera a person has and a decent tripod go a long way in taking good pix.

[M&M's Mommy]

WOW. I didn't get to see it because I totally forgot about it :o. Bad, bad Theresa!

But, thanks to your pictures, I get to see it now!! I didn't realize we have sp many professional photographers on this forum :)

[wolf_Q]

Thanks for sharing the great photos, everyone! :) I went outside to check it out but the sky was completely covered in clouds. :(

[anna_66]

Catlady711-Thanks for the tips! I'll practice, practice practice:D

[Catlady711]

Been playing around with some of my photo programs I only know how to half use (I'm better at photography than cpu programs).

Anyways I came up with this if anyone is actually interested in seeing it.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l17/Catlady711/LunarComposite2.jpg

[Jessika]

That's awesome!!!!!! I really hope you et it framed!

[Catlady711]

That's awesome!!!!!! I really hope you et it framed!


I doubt I'll have it framed. lol Aside from the slightly visable square around the center moon (which I didn't know was there until I flattened the layers and saved it. DOH!).

I just realized the first pix of the whole moon (at about the 11 O'clock spot) belongs directly opposite on the other side. DOH again!

Yup, I definately need more work doing these things that's for sure. lol

[BC_MoM]

Aww, that's easily fixed, though:

http://i26.tinypic.com/qyg6xs.jpg

[Catlady711]

It just reminds me there is a whole lot more to the concept of 'photoshopping' something that I thought. I don't actually have photoshop but I have cheapie programs that can do some similar things.

Programs are a whole different animal than just photography. And here I thought going digital would be easier. ROFL.