Lunar Eclipse May 16th 2003

Total Lunar Eclipse of May 16

Penumbral Eclipse Begins: 01:05:16 UT
Partial Eclipse Begins: 02:02:42 UT
Total Eclipse Begins: 03:13:40 UT
Greatest Eclipse: 03:40:01 UT
Total Eclipse Ends: 04:06:22 UT
Partial Eclipse Ends: 05:17:20 UT
Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 06:14:47 UT

Unfortunately the Moon Sets at about 4:30 UTC, which is the same time as the sun rises (obviously since its an eclipse really! by definition the earth moon and sun must be aligned). This means that the greatest elcipse for Irish observers will occur less than an hour before dawn, so the sky will be brightening up considerably.

Also The Moon will not be passing through the center of the Earths umbra, so the eclipse probably wont be that dark.

Despite this rather gloomy prediction it should be possible to see the Moon darken considerably before dawn, and a rad moon in the predawn sky could provide a nice photo oppertunity.

If you are looking for a location, you will need to find one that has a clear South, and Sout West view. The moon sets at 237.4 degrees, which is just west of south west.

sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/OH/OH2003.html Has some good eclipse info.

If you have any plans to watch the eclipse please post details here. And of course post any reports that you have from the eclipse here also!

Cheers,
~Al

1. TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE:

>> 15-16 May (Thurs night - Fri morning). The following times are BST:
>> Start of Penumbral Phase (P1) Barely noticeable): 02h 05m 25s
>> Start of Umbral Phase (U1): 03h 02m 51s
>> Start of Total Phase: (U2) 04h 13m 49s
>> Mid Eclipse: 04h 40m 10s
>> End of Total Phase: (U3) 05h 06m 31s
>> End of Umbral Phase (U4): 06h 17m 29s
>>
>> Duration of Totality is just 52 mt 42s, and the sky will be brightening
>> with dawn twilight towards the end of totality, especially for observers in
>> the North-east. In fact at 05.00, just before the end of totality, the Sun
>> is only 2° 47' below the horizon from Belfast, so the eclipsed moon may not
>> be visible at all in the twilight! The Moon sets from Ireland just after
>> the end of totality, so the later umbral stages will not be visible at all.
>> The table gives the altitude & azimuth of the Moon at mid eclipse, and end
>> of totality, from various cities.
>> Belfast Dublin Cork Limerick
>> Mid Eclipse 4° 31'; 227°. 5° 21'; 227°. 7° 28'; 225°. 7° 00'; 225°
>> End Totality 1° 48'; 232°. 2° 42'; 232°. 4° 38'; 230°. 4° 10'; 230°
>> The Moon passes though the North edge of the Earth's umbra, so the S
>> edge of the Moon will appear darkest, although not even the S edge of the
>> Moon passes through the centre of the umbra.
>> Observers in SW Ireland will have the best view, with the Moon higher
>> up, and the Sun further below the horizon, at all stages of the eclipse.
>> The Moon occults an 8m.7 magnitude star, TYC 6192-1038-1, or HD 137916,
>> at about 04.30 during the eclipse: that event may just be visible if the
>> sky is dark enough.
>>
>> LOOK OUT for a pass of the ISS just before Totality! Exact time will depend
>> on your location, but watch out from about 03.55 if you are in the SW of
>> Ireland, a bit later if you are in the N & E. Details from
>> www.heavens-above.com It won't pass across the Moon from anywhere in
>> Ireland....

Anyone get to see it? ... I sure didn't ... bucketing rain it was here in Maynooth!

bucketing rain it was here in Maynooth!

And visiblilty was down to about 10 meters in Dalkey thanks to very thick fog, so I saw nothing either.

Nowhere in the country seems to have been clear enough, though Gordon Nason did report that someone managed to get a peek of it though the clouds in Dublin.

Hopefully the weather will be better on the 31st!

Cheers,
~Al