Total Lunar Eclipse
The Diamond Ring
At the end of totality, the moon starts to uncover the sun’s incredibly brilliant photosphere and creates a visual effect called the “diamond ring”. It lasts only a moment, but leaves an remarkably strong emotional impression that may be responsible for why those that witness it, seek it again, at the next total eclipse of the sun.
Heise Hot Springs, Idaho
21 August 2017
EOS 6D on Televue-85, 480 mm f/5.6
Heise Hot Springs, Idaho
21 August 2017
EOS 6D on Televue-85, 480 mm f/5.6
Corona
Only when the moon covers the sun in a total eclipse can its halo be seen. This is the corona, a mystery to astronomers, who only get a glimpse of it for a few minutes during totality. The dot to the lower left is the star Regulus, in the constellation Leo, suddenly visible while the sun is eclipsed.
Heise Hot Springs, Idaho
21 August 2017
EOS 6D on Televue-85, 480 mm f/5.6
HDR composite of 8 exposures
Heise Hot Springs, Idaho
21 August 2017
EOS 6D on Televue-85, 480 mm f/5.6
HDR composite of 8 exposures
Maui Moon
The moon is bright enough to show during broad daylight. Here a nearly full moon is framed by branches of palm trees that line the beaches of Kanapaali. As the day progresses to evening the powerful effect of moonlight will add to the already potent romance of this Hawaiian island.
Kanapaali Beach, Maui, HI
April 2001
Kanapaali Beach, Maui, HI
April 2001
Prominences
During the Great American Eclipse, the moon covered the brilliance of the sun’s photosphere, revealing the activity occurring at its surface. Deep red flares of energized gas erupt and eject for thousands of miles, then follow the lines of magnetic force back to the surface.
Heise Hot Springs, Idaho
21 August 2017
EOS 6D on Televue-85, 480 mm f/5.6
Heise Hot Springs, Idaho
21 August 2017
EOS 6D on Televue-85, 480 mm f/5.6
Lunar Eclipse Sequence
I have seen a total lunar eclipse before, but it was by accident, and I was unable to successfully photograph it. This time I knew it was coming and the skies were clear, but the brutally cold temperatures caused me to find excuses to stay indoors. I was goaded into it however by my son, who pointed out that I had acquired considerable cold weather gear, equipment, and specialized clothing for my peculiar hobby. If not now, when would I ever put them to use?
Of course to maintain any sense of pride, I quietly took his point and proceeded to set up in the neighborhood open area. It is directly under a streetlight which exposed my activities to the neighbors, whose curiosity was not deterred by the temperature. By the time the edge of the moon started to dim, a small group of kids and their hardy parents had assembled to see what would happen.
Our informal eclipse party would last for the next few hours, with people cycling through neighboring houses, returning with hot chocolate, warmed-up feet, and more participants. My own schedule called for taking an exposure every ten minutes, not quite enough time to leave my post.
It was enough time to explain what was happening and to show views though the telescope as the edge of the Earth's shadow crossed the face of the moon. I like to explain that if we were on the moon, the Earth would be backlit, and that everywhere along its edge is at either sunset or at sunrise. The sky there is familiar to us: red and orange, the colors refracted slightly around the Earth's edge by the air. It is this reddish-orange light source that illuminates the moon when the sun no longer hits it directly.
It is interesting that the edge of the shadow shows a bit of brownish cast. As the last bit of direct sunlight hits the very edge of the moon, the orange-brown shadow details emerge. It has been there all along, but our eyes can now adapt to this much dimmer light level.
These views are quite similar to the visual experience. At full totality however, the moon seemed to be a grayish brown color. The deep red in the photo is not artificial; the film sees it better than we do.
Minnetonka MN
20 Jan 2000
First image 8:55 pm CST
Nikon-F at prime focus of Takahashi CN-212 (Newtonian 820mm at f/3.9)
E200 Ektachrome
Of course to maintain any sense of pride, I quietly took his point and proceeded to set up in the neighborhood open area. It is directly under a streetlight which exposed my activities to the neighbors, whose curiosity was not deterred by the temperature. By the time the edge of the moon started to dim, a small group of kids and their hardy parents had assembled to see what would happen.
Our informal eclipse party would last for the next few hours, with people cycling through neighboring houses, returning with hot chocolate, warmed-up feet, and more participants. My own schedule called for taking an exposure every ten minutes, not quite enough time to leave my post.
It was enough time to explain what was happening and to show views though the telescope as the edge of the Earth's shadow crossed the face of the moon. I like to explain that if we were on the moon, the Earth would be backlit, and that everywhere along its edge is at either sunset or at sunrise. The sky there is familiar to us: red and orange, the colors refracted slightly around the Earth's edge by the air. It is this reddish-orange light source that illuminates the moon when the sun no longer hits it directly.
It is interesting that the edge of the shadow shows a bit of brownish cast. As the last bit of direct sunlight hits the very edge of the moon, the orange-brown shadow details emerge. It has been there all along, but our eyes can now adapt to this much dimmer light level.
These views are quite similar to the visual experience. At full totality however, the moon seemed to be a grayish brown color. The deep red in the photo is not artificial; the film sees it better than we do.
Minnetonka MN
20 Jan 2000
First image 8:55 pm CST
Nikon-F at prime focus of Takahashi CN-212 (Newtonian 820mm at f/3.9)
E200 Ektachrome
Minneapolis Moonrise
The moon rises over the cityscape of Minneapolis as its buildings start to turn on their own lighting.. This is the “supermoon”, a designation for when the moon is unusually close to Earth and hence, appears even larger than expected.
Minneapolis MN
2 December 2017
Canon EOS 60Da, EF 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm
1/60, f/2.8, ISO 400
Minneapolis MN
2 December 2017
Canon EOS 60Da, EF 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm
1/60, f/2.8, ISO 400
Regulus Occultation
When the moon, in its monthly travel around Earth, moves across a bright star, it is called an occultation. On this date, the moon is moving toward the bright star Regulus. Here is a superposed series of pictures taken over 1 hour as Regulus apparently “approaches” and then is eclipsed by the moon.
3 November 2007
Takahashi CN 212, Newtonian configuration, f/4
EOS 20Da, ISO 800
1/500 sec, superposition of successive exposures one minute apart
3 November 2007
Takahashi CN 212, Newtonian configuration, f/4
EOS 20Da, ISO 800
1/500 sec, superposition of successive exposures one minute apart
Half Eclipse
We can see the curvature of the Earth as the moon enters its shadow. The color in the shadow is a coppery red, but it is a thousandth of the brightness of the still-illuminated half.
Jackie's Last Moonrise
An old moon precedes the sunrise. The view from her home in Idaho Falls where the landscape is shared with her late husband’s ham radio towers.
Idaho Falls, ID
27 October 2019
Idaho Falls, ID
27 October 2019
Super Blood Moon
A “blood moon” is the name given to a total lunar eclipse, due to its reddish color when in the Earth’s shadow. The title “supermoon” is given to a full moon when it is at its closest approach, making it appear a bit larger than average. When a lunar eclipse happens at this perigee, it may be called a super blood moon.
At totality, the moon is entirely inside the shadow of the Earth, although it might not be perfectly centered. It is so dim that stars, normally washed out by the moon's glare, can be seen in the background.\
At totality, the moon is entirely inside the shadow of the Earth, although it might not be perfectly centered. It is so dim that stars, normally washed out by the moon's glare, can be seen in the background.\
Super Blood Moonrise
A “blood moon” is the name given to a total lunar eclipse, due to its reddish color when in the Earth’s shadow. The title “supermoon” is given to a full moon when it is at its closest approach, making it appear a bit larger than average. When a lunar eclipse happens at this perigee, it may be called a super blood moon.
This is a picture at moonrise over Lake Nokomis, just before the lunar eclipse began. The orange color is not the blood of the eclipse, it is the normal colors of the sun and moon while rising or setting.
This is a picture at moonrise over Lake Nokomis, just before the lunar eclipse began. The orange color is not the blood of the eclipse, it is the normal colors of the sun and moon while rising or setting.
Arctic Moon
A few days from the winter solstice, at the arctic circle, the moon sets at noon. The sun, hugging the opposite horizon is also about to set, casting its red light on different generations of pine trees.
Jokkmokk, Sweden
18 Dec 2019
Jokkmokk, Sweden
18 Dec 2019
Wupatki Moon
“The Citadel”, one of the structures built by indigenous people who lived here from 500-1200 CE, provides a focus for a nighttime exposure. The Arizona skies are clear except for a cloud condensed by the contrasting air flows over the monument.
Arctic Power
The ocean of trees part to make way for electric power to cross the northern regions of Sweden. The sun has momentarily peeked above the horizon and will soon drop below it again in the days before the winter solstice at this arctic circle location.
18 Dec 2019
Jokkmokk, Sweden
18 Dec 2019
Jokkmokk, Sweden
Transit Sunset
It is rare for Venus to pass in front of the sun and so I assembled telescopes and equipment while Poldi hosted a picnic, inviting family and friends to view an event that won’t happen again for a hundred years. We spent the afternoon and evening watching the silhouette of Venus move slowly across the face of the sun until it dropped behind clouds and trees at sunset .
Minneapolis MN
5 June 2012
Canon EOS 20Da on Televue-85
Minneapolis MN
5 June 2012
Canon EOS 20Da on Televue-85
Arctic Moonset
A few days from the winter solstice, at the arctic circle, the moon will set in the northwest at noon, the same time that the sun appears for its few minutes above the southern horizon.
18 Dec 2019
Jokkmokk, Sweden
18 Dec 2019
Jokkmokk, Sweden
This picture was taken during the midpoint of the eclipse when the moon was deepest in shadow. The visual appearance was a dim grayish brown, but a long enough exposure on film will show the red component to its color.
The "bottom" of the moon is brighter. This means that the moon didn't pass through the dead center of the Earth's shadow, but toward one side. This view is similar to the visual experience. At full totality however, the moon seemed to be a grayish brown color. The deep red in the photo is not artificial; the film just sees it better than we do.
20 January 2000
10:55 pm CST, Minnetonka MN
Nikon-F at prime focus of Takahashi CN-212 (Newtonian 820mm at f/3.9)
2 second exposure on E200 Ektachrome