Total Lunar Eclipse -21st December 2010

Hi,

Good to see your nice images and observing under such difficult conditions. Here, we had a snowstorm last evening but I cleared a small area in the garden (which has since filled in with today's snow).

I was able to observe and photo through gaps in a cloud bank. Shortly after the start of totality the moon succumbed to cloud. I made the umbra a fairly bright, orange colour.

I used my 130mm refractor. Details with the images.

See www.variablestarnights.net

Happy Christmas,
John

Very nice image John ,and here are some from around the world.
If people are interested they can send their eclipse images
to Nancy at Universe Toady and join in this long list of moons.
Or post to the JPL flickr site both links and contact details are within the blog below

www.universetoday.com/81839/lunar-eclips...e-world-dec-21-2010/

Deirdre Kelleghan
Vice Chair IFAS

Here are my efforts in -15 temp it was cold out.





jonathan.

Well what a freezing cold night, we started off going to our club site in Boher but was fogged out, Conan suggested we head to a site he found near keeper hill, much higher then any other site we've ever used before, it was above the fog, it was like looking down on clouds, great southern vista.

my favourites from the night
www.flickr.com/photos/61288385@N00/5280855039/

www.flickr.com/photos/61288385@N00/5280853495/

www.flickr.com/photos/61288385@N00/5280852465/

Slideshow of 15 images in flickr
www.flickr.com/photos/61288385@N00/sets/72157625647973416/

First time observing at -12 celsius, we only had the scopes out an hour and ice had already formed on them, never seen the likes of it before!
The moon was very red, we lost if a few degrees above the horison due to horison clouds, but hey we were very happy to see it at all as at one stage it was looking like we'd see nothing.
Focusing the camera became difficult towards the end as the red moon was quiet dim against the blue sky, we lost the moon around 8am. we finished up with a group photo on Franks camera,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/franks_astrophotography/5280127878/
www.flickr.com/photos/franks_astrophotography/5280127878/

Frank_Ryan_jr wrote:

The Solstice Lunar Eclipse 2010 was fantastic!
After some frantic driving by the SAC crew to get to a higher location to avoid fog and clouds the eclipse was well underway.
(We ended up on Keeper Hill in Tipperary!)

It was like something out of stormchasers except we werent been followed by a discoverey channel crew. :laugh: :laugh:


Keith g wrote:

Yee SAC lads are mad :woohoo:
Keith..

whats your point? :laugh: :laugh:

Great photos.
great to see so many could see some part of it.

I see your eclipse telescope-camera configuration has come in handy again Dave!

michaeloconnell wrote:

I see your eclipse telescope-camera configuration has come in handy again Dave!

yea, its a good combination once I get the camera focus right, the auld venerable 300d hasn't given up the ghost yet.