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Posted by: Stu Dec 20 2010, 10:55 AM

If you're a UK member, here's a guide to how you can observe tomorrow morning's total lunar eclipse...

http://cumbriansky.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/total-lunar-eclipse-on-dec-21st-visible-from-cumbria-and-across-the-uk/

If you live outside the UK, a quick Google search should provide you with advice on watching it from your location, if you can see it.

I know it's going to be widely observed across the US, so US members should check out the SKY & TELESCOPE website for times, etc.

Posted by: bkellysky Dec 21 2010, 01:10 AM

For folks in the USA, attached is a graphic with the times of the lunar eclipse in Eastern Standard Time - to get the times for your location, just subtract one hour for Central Time, two hours for Mountain Time and three for Pacific Time. The eclipse will be visible in any location in the US with a clear sky.
The moon will be about half-way up in the western sky for those of us in the eastern US, higher in the sky as you go further west.
The eclipse is prettier from outside with a background of stars that usually can't be seen easily when the moon is full, but you may be able to see the eclipsed moon from indoors in a darkened room, especially if you find the moon earlier when partially eclipsed and its brighter.

Chart is from mreclipse.com, but more information is also available at:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/111597159.html

good luck and happy viewing...

Posted by: nprev Dec 21 2010, 01:29 AM

Afraid it's a literal washout here in Los Angeles...seems like it NEVER rains here unless there's some sort of cool astronomical event!!!

(BTW, Bkellysky, big fan of your column & your magazine!)

Posted by: Explorer1 Dec 21 2010, 05:58 AM

For those under nasty clouds (like myself), a webcast is available, (requires Silverlight):
http://www.ccssc.org/webcast.html

Posted by: Sunspot Dec 21 2010, 06:06 AM

Clear here...but FREEEZING!!!!!!

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Dec 21 2010, 06:47 AM

The clouds have started breaking up. But it's difficult to focus through that mess.

Posted by: Sunspot Dec 21 2010, 06:59 AM

Think I can already see some colour in the shadow.

Posted by: nprev Dec 21 2010, 07:40 AM

Looked fine to me, Dan; a little blurry, but not excessively so at all.

I still can't believe that here in Los Angeles, a city that gets approx. 367 days a year of sunshine (or so it seems), both this eclipse AND the Geminids were rained out!!!

Posted by: volcanopele Dec 21 2010, 07:53 AM

Okay, here is my awesome shot!

Okay, before you laugh, I am not a photographer. I am not an astrophotographer. This is from a webcam scotch taped to a pair of binoculars, which have to be held in one hand, while I press the capture button on the laptop. And I have had plenty of caffeine...

Posted by: volcanopele Dec 21 2010, 08:02 AM

Show's over here I think. Much thicker clouds have rolled in here in Tucson

Posted by: JohnVV Dec 21 2010, 08:22 AM

here in the metro Detroit area it is VERY cloudy
all that can be seen is the "sky glow" of Detroit and the I-96 and I-275 lights

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Dec 21 2010, 08:30 AM

Just prior to totality

EDIT: replaced with a sharper five-image stack I made this morning

Posted by: Stu Dec 21 2010, 09:24 AM

GORGEOUS pics everyone! Glad you all saw it. Had a fantastic if freezing view from here in Kendal. Stella and I hiked up to the castle at 6am, wrapped up like arctic explorers, in temp of minus ten degrees c, snow and hoarfrost all around but it was worth it...

And we were joined by a reporter from our local BBC radio station too...



The Moon actually set while still fully eclipsed, but a good 20 mins before then we lost sight of it because it was falling into near-horizon murk and the sky was brightening behind it too.

Well worth the cold!

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Dec 21 2010, 09:32 AM

Seriously? They covered an eclipse on the radio? I thought that was just a Monty Python gag.

Posted by: Stu Dec 21 2010, 09:49 AM

Yep, they covered it. I've got a fantastic relationship with BBC Radio Cumbria - they always cover events put on by my astro society, and they wanted to do live reports on the eclipse because so many of their listeners provide feedback when I do my monthly "skywatch" slot. Add to that a forecast for a clear sky, a viewing location drenched in history, and a reporter who is interested in astronomy anyway, and you've a perfect outside broadcast opportunity. We did three different reports, at different stages of the eclipse, and lots of listeners rang in saying they were enjoying the show, and others rang in to say they would have missed it if they hadn't heard our reports. So a great morning all round.

Posted by: bkellysky Dec 21 2010, 10:00 AM

Mid-totality photo 55mm zoom 2.5 sec on tripod at ISO 1600 F5.6
Most focused of the shots I took.
More on my blog soon.
http://bkellysky.wordpress.com/
Cirrus and increasing deck of altocumulus. Temp mid 20's F, gusty wind.
Seemed darker than the last one, not nearly as dark as when volcanic ash made the moon almost disappear. Couldn't see Tycho. Less colorful in my 8x25 binoculars.

bob

Posted by: Ian R Dec 21 2010, 02:28 PM

If anyone wants to listen to Stu talking about the eclipse on BBC Radio Cumbria, here's the link to this morning's show (I hope this is accessible to folks in the States):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00cqslq/The_Mike_Parr_Breakfast_Show_21_12_2010/

The times to check out are 47 minutes, 1:11, and 1:33.

Posted by: Ant103 Dec 22 2010, 09:00 AM

Nothing to see here, in the south-west of France. Clouds. Clouds everywhere.