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01-02-2008, 06:43 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hidden in the clover
Posts: 1,454
| | | Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Just a heads up for a heads up really...
After last March's (March 3rd 2007) spectacular lunar eclipse, when we were blessed with crystal clear skies over much of the UK to enable us to watch this phenomenon, we are expecting the NEXT Lunar Eclipse THIS MONTH.
We certainly will be lucky to have near perfect viewing conditions again, and this one isn't quite so "user friendly", occurring in the wee small hours, rather than late evening.
Fingers crossed though, eh?
February's Total Lunar Eclipse will begin (roughly) around 01:30am on THURSDAY 21ST FEBRUARY, "totality" will happen (roughly again) between 03:01am and 03:52am, with the mid point of totality being at (roughly again) 03:26am. It will all be over (to any interested watchers) by about 05:30am on the same morning.
I think, though I stand to be corrected here, the NEXT Total Lunar Eclipse for us after this one, will not occur until December 21st, 2010.
So... lets hope for clear night skies this month, and if you haven't got one yet - go and buy a thermos flask!
Doug | 
01-02-2008, 08:02 AM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Yorkshire ( Gods Country )
Posts: 841
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Thanks for that Doug,,
Will be a great sight.However that is just a little to late at night or to early in the morning depending how you look at it. The only thing that gets me out and about at that time is sea trout fishing,,,
Regards
Andy
__________________ Real problems are solved by actions, not by p.....g and moaning.... | 
01-02-2008, 06:23 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 240
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Is it alright to look at a Lunar Eclipse with your bare eyes?  Or do you have to use those special glasses?  Or Neither of the two? 
Bethany!  | 
01-02-2008, 07:03 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hidden in the clover
Posts: 1,454
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenish Is it alright to look at a Lunar Eclipse with your bare eyes?  Or do you have to use those special glasses?  Or Neither of the two? 
Bethany!  | Its fine to look at a LUNAR eclipse with your "bare eyes" Bethany. 
Just don't look at a SOLAR eclipse with your bare eyes...
Doug | 
01-02-2008, 07:07 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 240
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Aha!  Thought so!  But just checking, don't want to hurt myself! 
Bethany!  | 
01-02-2008, 08:35 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lincoln
Posts: 446
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february I work nights  Lets hope we have clear skies! | 
04-02-2008, 02:56 PM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 79
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Thanks for the heads up  Hopefully it will be clear, fingers crossed
F11  | 
08-02-2008, 10:32 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 2
| | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february hi there all, just to say that my pal is off to work in stornoway during the eclipse week, so have instructed her to take photos of the total lunar eclipse at callanish ! (the lunar stone circle on the island of lewis )Hope to post some unique ones on her return. | 
09-02-2008, 05:21 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Kensworth, Bedfordshire - a village in the Chiltern Hills
Posts: 1,354
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Thanks for letting us know Doug! The one last March was so spectacular that I might just stay up (or get up) to see this one ... but no promises!
Last March I just happened to be in Norfolk bird watching with a friend (same as last weekend, funnily enough) and just happened to hear someone in the hotel say something about an eclipse. When we went for a post-dinner walk on the beach, we noticed something odd happening to the moon, and so hastened back to the hotel to get our scopes out. Several other people had a look through them too. It was a truly facinating sight, and a very memorable experience. | 
09-02-2008, 08:49 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 245
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Thanks for that Doug.
This will be great to see, like you said we can only hope for a clear night | 
10-02-2008, 11:11 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1
| | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Hi,
can anyone tell me why the moon looked red this evening?
Or was it my imagination?
ta
djs | 
10-02-2008, 11:17 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hidden in the clover
Posts: 1,454
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Quote:
Originally Posted by djs Hi,
can anyone tell me why the moon looked red this evening?
Or was it my imagination?
ta
djs | Well, as I don't know where you're viewing from, (ie somewhere built up, or somewhere remote), I'd have to guess...
The moon is very low in the sky at present - when you look at it at the moment, you're viewing it through quite a lot of earth's atmosphere - you're looking along the atmosphere, so to speak, rather than at 90 degrees to it.
Any pollutants / dust in the atmosphere will make the moon appear a duller colour, often orangey or reddish, low moons often appear that way.
That effect is often magnified when a low moon is viewed in a built up area, rather than a place devoid of all air or light pollution.
I hope that helps?
If not - I haven't got a clue, sorry!
Doug | 
11-02-2008, 11:51 AM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancashire, NOT Manchester!
Posts: 45
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Fantastic  Thanks for the heads up, I will be working lates, which means I can stay up for this one!
__________________ James. | 
11-02-2008, 01:54 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mid Glamorgan South Wales
Posts: 1,480
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Found this link on photographing the eclipse How to Photograph a Lunar Eclipse
__________________ They told me I was gullible... and I believed them ! | 
11-02-2008, 04:37 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hidden in the clover
Posts: 1,454
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february I just hope we haven't run out of clear nights by the 21st?!
We're certainly getting more than our fair share right now, unfortunately they're 10 or so nights early....
Aw well.
Fingers crossed...
Doug | 
20-02-2008, 02:24 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hidden in the clover
Posts: 1,454
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Remember grapple fans...
TONIGHT.
Starting around 01:30am
Totality around 03:26am
Ending around 05:20 am.
Its cloudy here at present (after 10 odd days of clear nights).... TYPICAL!
If the skies clear though  ... it should be worth a look.
Doug | 
20-02-2008, 04:48 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 240
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Good!  I have a perfect view of the moon from my window at the moment, I'm sure not to miss this! 
__________________ Bethany | 
20-02-2008, 05:17 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Coast Hampshire
Posts: 202
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february THANKS . . . . nearly forgot (thought it was tomorrow) camera batt on charge just leaving for a 10 hr night shift obviously long Tea breaks will be on the cards Tonight.
Regards
Rob
__________________ Anything that can eat brambles has my full respect. | 
20-02-2008, 05:35 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hidden in the clover
Posts: 1,454
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob T THANKS . . . . nearly forgot (thought it was tomorrow) camera batt on charge just leaving for a 10 hr night shift obviously long Tea breaks will be on the cards Tonight.
Regards
Rob | I'm finally OFF nights for a week Rob!
(Back on next week though).
Hope the clouds disappear where you work.
Doug | 
20-02-2008, 06:57 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 240
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february It's a clear sky, and the moon is shining brightly!  
__________________ Bethany | 
20-02-2008, 07:19 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hidden in the clover
Posts: 1,454
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenish It's a clear sky, and the moon is shining brightly!   | You're extremely lucky Bethany!
Lets hope it stays that way for you.
Its still cloudy doon here 
Doug | 
20-02-2008, 07:44 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 240
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february I can still see it, lets hope that by 1:30, you can, too! 
Keep on believing, believing is all it takes! 
__________________ Bethany | 
20-02-2008, 08:00 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hidden in the clover
Posts: 1,454
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenish I can still see it, lets hope that by 1:30, you can, too! 
Keep on believing, believing is all it takes!  |
You may be right Bethany!
I can see it now!  - please don't let the fog come in again tonight!!!
DOug | 
20-02-2008, 08:03 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 240
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february I can't see the moon from here, but that's cause the other part of the house is in the way, I'll have to go and check again!  Ward off the fog, with belief - I'v been excited about this for 2 weeks, maybe that's why I have great vision of the moon! 
Just checked and, YES, I CAN SEE IT! 
Goodnight..
__________________ Bethany
Last edited by Greenish; 20-02-2008 at 08:10 PM.
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20-02-2008, 08:37 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: staffordshire
Posts: 399
| | | Re: Total LUNAR Eclipse in february Lots off cloud here in staffs moon keeps showing now and then but very cloudy. Cant see any stars.
Barquar |  | | |