Total LUNAR Eclipse in february

[The Black Rabbit]

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

[coasty]

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

[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!

[The Black Rabbit]

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

[Greenish]

Aha! Thought so! But just checking, don't want to hurt myself!
Bethany!

[Seajay]

I work nights Lets hope we have clear skies!

[Force Eleven]

Thanks for the heads up Hopefully it will be clear, fingers crossed

F11

[bonagur]

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.

[Pete Collins]

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.

[stephen p]

Thanks for that Doug.

This will be great to see, like you said we can only hope for a clear night

[djs]

Hi,

can anyone tell me why the moon looked red this evening?

Or was it my imagination?

ta
djs

[The Black Rabbit]

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

[September]

Fantastic Thanks for the heads up, I will be working lates, which means I can stay up for this one!

[galanthus]

Found this link on photographing the eclipse

How to Photograph a Lunar Eclipse

[The Black Rabbit]

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

[The Black Rabbit]

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

[Greenish]

Good! I have a perfect view of the moon from my window at the moment, I'm sure not to miss this!

[Greenish]

It's a clear sky, and the moon is shining brightly!

[The Black Rabbit]

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

[Greenish]

I can still see it, lets hope that by 1:30, you can, too!
Keep on believing, believing is all it takes!

[The Black Rabbit]

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

[Greenish]

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..

[barquar]

Lots off cloud here in staffs moon keeps showing now and then but very cloudy. Cant see any stars.
Barquar

[cybershot]

Patchy but heavy cloud cover at the moment here in the south.

[Bub-les]

Way too much cloud here. Shame!
Last night was clear!