Viewer's Guide: Total Lunar Eclipse Feb. 20

Looks as if we "down under" miss this one.

We have an interesting selection of sizes/distances, with sun/moon/earth giving a variety of both solar and lunar eclipses on Earth.

Kind Regards....

It could be you MEAN the morning of Feb 21st but it has to be made clear that officially, according to NASA websites, the eclipse is happening in the early hours of the 21st.

Check here for details and let's all hope , or if you are that way inclined pray, for clear skies that time.

Happy viewing

I forgot to mention that NASA uses GMT or UT. It is therefor true that North America has the eclipse on the evening of the 20th. Bloody clocks, why can't we all live in the same time zone?

You all got your scopes out? It is ok here now but bad weather predicted for later so I am hoping like I have never before.

afocal with 40mm eyepiece on my f13.8 meade. Camera is fujifilm finepix A800 no zoom.

If you can't watch the REAL eclipse tonight, watch this instead:

http://shadowandsubstance.com/

Hello AstroNut

Thanks for that informative link, along with all those fancy pictures and diagrams.

I've given you a Good Post Mark.

Kind Regards....

Hello case491

Thank you for your fine efforts, which show your dedication to the noble purpose of skywatching.

The Awards Committee hereby have much pleasure in presenting you with this specially selected blended scotch whisky, from a selection of distilleries.

Trust you warrrm up as you sip the golden nectar, and the sign was added, because you're a special sort of person.

And a Good Post Mark as well, because you earned one.

Kind Regards....

That warms my heart even before the price arrived. Thanks.

As it was a bit crap last night, I also downloaded the live images from an Argentinian telescope which I will finalise in a composite photo later but here is a taster done in the middle of the night.

My eyes probably look like the seventh from the left

Excellent work, case491!

Chicago's skies were completely clear! Bitter sub-zero temps, though. I watched intermittently, hopping out onto the deck for two minutes at a time was all I could bear!

The color seemed unusually golden. The lunars I've seen before were coppery, blood-red, or deep brown. This one was a buff color, not much red at all! I would appreciate hearing others' views on the color.

Here it is, the final compilation of my stolen pictures from Argentinia. Unfortunately they do not tell us what kind of telescope they used for these pictures but the detail is quite good so I reckon it must have been a reasonable sized one.

I suppose this concludes this thread somewhat so see you next time we have a reason to voluntarily catch frostbite.

I must state explicitely that the above picture is NOT my result ok! I only chose the best once for a sequence to include first contact, start of totality, maximum, end of totality and exit of penumbral phase.

Please note that all credit goes to the Amigos A la Astronomia de Argentinia (or something like that), well done guys.

Just got a report from a friend, a commercial pilot who was flying Denver to Minneapolis and had a fantastic view. He says: "The bad part was that the passengers didn't have as good a view as we had, almost head-on. I made a point to tell the passengers when they were positioned to see it, though. Some airplanes even did 360's so everyone could see. The controllers obliged, even though they were stuck in windowless buildings. At about the halfway point, another jet flew underneath us, and it was gorgeous with their contrail in the moonlight and the partially eclipsed moon both in view."

I'm in the wrong job!

What was the direction of your moon in the USA?

Denver is south west of Minneapolis so theoretically the passengers sitting on the right side of the plane should have been able to see it almost all the way. These planes never fly in a straight line though so who knows where they lead them sometimes. Cool though to be able to see it from above the clouds. Less atmosphere above you is better views.

In the Meade catalogue is stories from people who use their telescopes and their background. One was from a test pilot who had to fly enormous amounts in the night which they called "drilling holes in the sky". It was on those nights this guy got his interests in skywatching and now he is one of those amateurs that have discoveries on his name. I would love to get to that stage but money will stop me way before that.

My pilot friend has been an avid amateur astronomer since his teens. Flying is an excellent way to see the sky! He notes that the altitude can be a problem: "We're usually at a cabin altitude of 6-8000 feet, which dims things, but breathing O2 for a few seconds undoes that."

Pilots and frequent flyers also get to see the "glory" - the ring-shaped rainbow in a cloud around the plane's shadow. I've only seen that once.

What I REALLY want to see someday is an auroral display while in flight! My pilot friend describes it this way: "we were north of the magnetic North Pole and the auroras were astounding. We were surrounded by them in all directions, they were red, yellow and green, and changing constantly. It was like something out of Star Trek, except without the cool sound effects."

I am SO envious!!