March 3rd - Total Lunar Eclipse

weathergirl · #1 (**permalink**) 31-01-2007, 02:00 PM

Total Lunar Eclipse on the night of the 3rd.

Partial phase begins at 21h 39m and ends 01h 12m with totality at 22h 44m to 23h 58m. All times are GMT.

Totality will last for an hour.

A lunar eclipse happens when the Moon phases into the cone of shadow cast by the Earth. Its supply of direct sunlight is cut off and the moon becomes dim until it emerges from the shadow. even at mid totality it does not vanish completely, because the sunlight is bent on to its surface by the Earth's atmosphere. The eclipse could be dark or bright it depends on the air.

Garden Carpet · #2 (**permalink**) 31-01-2007, 02:08 PM

Thanks for that info Weather Girl. I will have to remember to go and have a look.
jaki

smartie · #3 (**permalink**) 31-01-2007, 02:47 PM

Thanks, weathergirl. I'll mark the calendar, but you may need to remind us nearer the time - you know what a forgetful lot we are!

wildlifesnapper · #4 (**permalink**) 31-01-2007, 03:01 PM

Thanks for the info, should be interesting. I hope it's a clear night

.

Neil

PeetieM · #5 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 11:35 AM

TTT as a reminder.
Weather here in Cornwall looks hopeful.
I don't have a good record with eclipses, went to South Africa for a solar eclipse a couple of years ago and was clouded over, exactly the same as when the Cornwall one happened.

Pete

earthman · #6 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 11:57 AM

Yes, thanks for that, I did hear the DJ on the radio today mention that, he did not say a time so many thanks.

flying red fox · #7 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 03:42 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3020737.stm

Yes i do hope that it will be clear skies in West sussex on Saturday evening, i will be watching this spectacular natural event with excitement.

smartie · #8 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 03:58 PM

Thanks for the reminder. We should get up a quick competition for the best photo (won't be me

)

Kymba · #9 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 04:01 PM

Does anyone know where the best place will be to see it ???
Bet it isnt kent! But will have my camera ready just in case

Jolanta Zofia Nowak · #10 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 04:38 PM

The best place to see will be.... anywhere you get a break in the clouds.

James_Owen · #11 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 10:09 PM

A quick look at the satellite images suggests a lot of us could have clear skies right on time. Fingers crossed, eh?

Kev Lewis · #12 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 11:42 AM

I'm planning to be up on the Birdlip ridge (Gloucester) for the duration of the event. I've found my flask, the batteries are charged, the CF cards are empty and I sort of know where South is

Wonder if I should take my flashgun with me just in case it gets dark

Madelinew · #13 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 02:14 PM

Wouldn't it make a change to have clear skies?! Every time an astral phenomenon is announced you can almost guarantee that the great British weather will perform it's usual total cloud cover for the event...

I took my newly acquired telescope to the Isle of Skye a couple of Aprils ago deciding to christen it in style. Didn't have a single clear night the whole time I was there and the thing had taken up more boot space that the rest of the luggage for a family of four. Last year, when I was up there again, a neighbour stopped me one morning and said "Did you see the Northern Lights last night? Best display I've seen in years!" Nope - tucked up in bed fast asleep.

Telescope primed and ready for tonight and I can watch from the balcony over my back garden with hot water bottle and tea on tap.

Kev Lewis · #14 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev Lewis

I'm planning to be up on the Birdlip ridge (Gloucester) for the duration of the event. I've found my flask, the batteries are charged, the CF cards are empty and I sort of know where South is

Wonder if I should take my flashgun with me just in case it gets dark

I've decided to have a play with moon and star trails on one camera exposing for a couple of hours and shoot the hell out of the moon with the 600mm on the other camera every minute or so. Sounds like a recipe for disaster and zero images

mrs fish · #15 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 03:25 PM

I hope to see some pics in the morning

Stewy · #16 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 05:07 PM

Me Dad bought a dodgy telescope from a boot sale a few years ago so we've set it up to see what happens

flying red fox · #17 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 05:16 PM

Just rained here in Bognor west sussex, cloud is now clearing away to the northeast and the moon has risen i can see it just.

carlos_dfc · #18 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 05:54 PM

For those intending to watch the eclipse - here's a little breakdown.

The Earth's shadow is effectively in two parts - The Umbra (Deep shadow) and the Penumbra.
The Penumbra is the area around the full shadow where (if you were on the Moon) you would see part of the Sun peeking out from behind the 'disk' of the Earth.

This pic explains the terms in the timing list below..
(The curve of the Moon's path through the shadow is exaggerated in this pic - in reality, the Earth's shadow is also moving in an 'opposite' curve - so with a stationary shadow diagram, the Moons track gets distorted)

Times are as follows (GMT)
Note - times are approx - depending on your location within the UK, timea may vary by a few minutes from those stated below.
Penumbral first contact - 20:18
Umbral first contact - 21:30
Totality begins - 22:44
Totality ends - 23:57
Umbral last contact - 01:11
Penumbral last contact - 02:23

ropami50 · #19 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 07:38 PM

I've got a great view of the moon from my lounge window and can see it really clearly with my binoculars. Here in bournemouth the sky is really clear, however earlier we were worried because it was quite cloudy. We're sure we'll get to see the eclipse and we're also going to take photographs. I hope everyone else hoping to see it gets just as good a view.