The eclipse of the Moon this morning.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 21 Dec, 2010 6:34 pm

I knew there was to be an eclipse of the Moon and that it would be total in parts of the World but I was under the impression that locally it would be only be a partial eclispe with not much of the Moon being eclipsed. I was pleasantly wrong! Looking out at 7:30 where I am in north Leeds the Moon was low but I was able to see it through a gap between close-by buildings. It was a gorgeous sight. There was a bright uneclipsed crescent on the right of the Moon but I would guess at least 90% of the Moon was eclipsed and had a lovely brown coppery shade. The setting Moon was out of my view by 7:45. I was certainly awestruck by the scene.

Post by **chameleon** » Tue 21 Dec, 2010 6:58 pm

Yes, I'm sure we were told not to expect too much but it was almost complete as you say - a lovely clear view over the roof tops as the dull orange glow grew in the lightening sky, a sharp contrast to the total solar eclipse we saw in Cornwall where the sky darkened, the gulls came to roost on the sea and everywhere became bathed in a tranquil erie daark green haze for those few moments. And the first to fall on the winter solstice for some 400 years.

munki · Post by **munki** » Tue 21 Dec, 2010 8:13 pm

I couldn't find the moon. How rubbish am I? Was out in the middle of the lawn at 7.40...

Post by **chameleon** » Tue 21 Dec, 2010 8:22 pm

munki wrote: I couldn't find the moon. How rubbish am I? Was out in the middle of the lawn at 7.40... In your 'condition' you're allowed

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Tue 21 Dec, 2010 8:23 pm

I saw the moon gradually vanishing as I drove to work this morning, but lost it behind buildings with it being so low in the sky and missed the coup de grace.Still pretty impressive though.Also quite weird watching the moon rise this evening, was a very orange / brown colour as it rose over the horizon, getting whiter as it climbed into the night sky.

munki · Post by **munki** » Tue 21 Dec, 2010 9:02 pm

chameleon wrote: munki wrote: I couldn't find the moon. How rubbish am I? Was out in the middle of the lawn at 7.40... In your 'condition' you're allowed Not at all sure what that is supposed to mean! If your first child is about to be born, & ther is a full lunar eclipse on the day of the winter solstice, it would be tempting fate not to go & try & worship the moon a little bit!When was the last time there was a full lunar eclipse on the day of the winter solstice? Anyone know?

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 21 Dec, 2010 9:13 pm

munki wrote: chameleon wrote: munki wrote: I couldn't find the moon. How rubbish am I? Was out in the middle of the lawn at 7.40... In your 'condition' you're allowed Not at all sure what that is supposed to mean! If your first child is about to be born, & ther is a full lunar eclipse on the day of the winter solstice, it would be tempting fate not to go & try & worship the moon a little bit!When was the last time there was a full lunar eclipse on the day of the winter solstice? Anyone know? It is reported to have been 372 years back.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 21 Dec, 2010 9:14 pm

raveydavey wrote: I saw the moon gradually vanishing as I drove to work this morning, but lost it behind buildings with it being so low in the sky and missed the coup de grace.Still pretty impressive though.Also quite weird watching the moon rise this evening, was a very orange / brown colour as it rose over the horizon, getting whiter as it climbed into the night sky. That sounds interesting and I wish I had seen it. Just now the Full Moon is high and very bright. The small bright object high in about the SW is Jupiter. For anyone interested the very bright object high in about the south in recent mornings is Venus.

Brandy · Post by **Brandy** » Tue 21 Dec, 2010 11:26 pm

Great view from the ls9 area.blooody damn cold one again though lol.So that bright star in the south is venus then Leodian?ive noticed it before,Sometimes it seems like that the only star in the sky.It also seemed even brighter this morning,was that to do with the eclipse?

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 22 Dec, 2010 12:44 am

Brandy wrote: Great view from the ls9 area.blooody damn cold one again though lol.So that bright star in the south is venus then Leodian?ive noticed it before,Sometimes it seems like that the only star in the sky.It also seemed even brighter this morning,was that to do with the eclipse? Hi Brandy. I would guess that rather than the bright Full Moon it would otherwise have been this morning the eclipse may have darkened the sky a bit such that it may have made Venus appear brighter. Venus has been very bright in the mornings for some weeks now and can still often be seen for a while when the sky is no longer dark. Seeing Venus and the eclipsed Moon were a good start to the day. PS. Being so bright Venus is often the source of people thinking they have seen a UFO.