Upcoming Event: Total Lunar Eclipse, June 15 / June 16th 2011

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi all

I've written an article detailing the upcoming Total Lunar Eclipse, on the 15th / 16th June 2011.

The article contains all the information you need including where and when you can view it, and how to photograph the eclipse.

The first total lunar eclipse of 2011 occurs in the early morning of the 16th June, about 1.5 hours before sunrise AEST.

Observers in Western Australia will get to see the whole event, while the Eastern States will miss the last partial stages of the eclipse as the Moon will set just after totality.

It's a long eclipse, with totality lasting 100 minutes. A good Westerly aspect will be essential as the Moon will be low in the West during totality.

Click the link below for more information about the eclipse, how and where you can see it and photograph it, and to look for timings and moon altitude for a city near you.

You can read more at:
Total Lunar Eclipse, June 15 / June 16th 2011

Please post any questions, and later, observing reports and images!

Cheers

[iceman (Mike)]

Article uploaded.

[iceman (Mike)]

First reminder for this total lunar eclipse in June.

Don't forget to 'Like' the article!

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

The day after my birthday. Brilliant! Thanks mike for a good article.

[h0ughy (David)]

i hope its clear and crisp

[Liz]

This will be great ... starts about 5.20 am for me, and wont last too long, but still looking forward to it.
Thanks Mike.

[Liz]

Originally Posted by iceman

Why so late, Liz? You'll get the partial phases before that won't you? 4:20 is AEST.. Still not daylight savings

Turns out I'll actually be in QLD on that day and the day before, presenting a social media seminar for real estate agents.

So I'll need to get some ideas from my QLD friends about where I can observe this from, low in the West with a nice foreground!

I ran it out through Stellarium, and thats what it showed me. Partial phases earlier sounds good.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Liz

I ran it out through Stellarium, and thats what it showed me. Partial phases earlier sounds good.

Liz, the whole eclipse takes 110 minutes centred on 6:12am, with 50 minutes totality in the middle. For Townsville moon set is at about 6:48 - about 11 minutes after totality finishes. I guess somewhere on the west side at the top of Castle Hill would maximise the length of time you could observe.

Cartes du Ciel shows the earth's shadow to make the eclipse easy to simulate.

Andrew

[swannies1983 (Dan)]

Can't wait. I missed the partial eclipse last year because my wife was giving birth to my son! How dare they interrupt my viewing! Oh well, maybe it's a sign that my little man will follow in his dad's footsteps

[iceman (Mike)]

Stripped my Brisbane viewing spots discussion to this thread:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=76137

[Mariner (Frank)]

Hello All,
I am very keen to get a good look at the upcoming eclipse and was wondering where the best viewing spots on the central coast of nsw would be? I see there are many of my IIC brethren who live here, are there any good spots near me (see where I live). I was thinking of Foresters Beach headland maybe??? I would love to be able to set up the big dob but will gladly settle for my refractor. I don't want too far of a drive as I will most probably my sleepy little six yr old astronomer with me.

Good luck to all with the weather for the event.
Regards, F.

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi Frank

Definitely don't worry about the big dob. Even the refractor, unless you're planning on imaging, won't give the best of views.

A total lunar eclipse is almost best viewed with just the eyeballs, or binoculars.

I'll be in Brisbane unfortunately, but if I was on the Central Coast, I was thinking Long Jetty with a view across the lake to the West (good foreground scene for photography )

Forresters might be ok but I can't think of where you get the view across to the west?

[Mariner (Frank)]

HI Mike,
Great idea about long jetty - great foreground too. I will try a bit of photography (just got the adapter and t mount for my e510 last week) so may drag out the refractor.

Thanks again for that. I will let you know how I went.
Best regads, Frank.

[Liz]

I have great eastern horizon, but nothing exciting in the west.
Will have to work out where to go, and reread Mikes article on how to photograph a lunar eclipse.

[Liz]

Looking good up here at the moment, fine and sunny still for Thursday.

[GraemeT (Graeme)]

Looks like Sydney will be an absolute washout, forecast is for heavy rain.

[iceman (Mike)]

This is pretty cool, shows what the Lunar Eclipse will look like if you were on the Moon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es9Nymrwen0

[leon]

Yep, and two days after mine Brenden, hope you had a good one.

Leon

[Liz]

Originally Posted by GraemeT

Looks like Sydney will be an absolute washout, forecast is for heavy rain.

What a shame, I noticed there were a couple of lows lurking down there Graeme.

Originally Posted by iceman

This is pretty cool, shows what the Lunar Eclipse will look like if you were on the Moon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es9Nymrwen0

Cool video Mike.
Lucky you wont be in Sydney either by the looks.

Am recovering from an interview on ABC radio this morning to discuss the event!! Hate speaking in public, and fumbled my way through.
Michael Clarke (radio announcer) commented that it was a good sign for the Maroons that the Moon would go red. Go Queensland.

[swannies1983 (Dan)]

Not looking good for Adelaide with mostly cloud expected in the morning .