Penumbral Eclipses

andrew2008 · #1 09-02-2009, 02:21 PM

Yet to observe this type of eclipse and reading AST see the one tonight should be a bit easier to view than usual. Happens about 1.38. Have read these are of little interest to most observers but as i start work at 3.30 tomorrow

is it worth getting out to try and see it?

Was planning to look at Comet Lulin as well before it grew much brighter to observe the contrast between now and its brightest when i should be able to get to a dark site. Just hope near full moon doesn't make it too dull to really see.

iceman (Mike) · #2 09-02-2009, 02:26 PM

I captured one almost 4 years ago (wow has it been that long!!), in April 2005.

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse, 24th April 2005

The darkening can be reasonably visible to the naked eye, but it is even more so photographically, especially with a bit of post-processing.

If it was clear here tonight, I might head out for a look but it's predicted to be cloudy all night. I'm not devastated about it though. I'm more devastated I missed the Titan transit.

The lunar eclipses ONLY happen at full moon so it doesn't make it any worse

It's what makes it

Rob_K · #3 10-02-2009, 02:11 AM

Very interesting to watch the limb gradually darken over about two hours, becoming more obvious as time went on.

Here's a shot at maximum, around 1:30am (UT+11). Canon 400D, MTO 1100/10.5 mirror lens, 1/1250 sec, ISO 400, stack of 10.

Cheers -

iceman (Mike) · #4 10-02-2009, 04:36 AM

Nice image Rob, well captured. We had rain and clouds here, not a chance of seeing it.

Rob_K · #5 10-02-2009, 12:30 PM

Thanks Mike! We had heavy cloud & smoke earlier, but it cleared later to very light cloud/smoke and fairly good views.

Cheers -

andrew2008 · #6 10-02-2009, 01:21 PM

Both very nice images.

Got up but had patchy cloud here as well. Could still easily see moon behind it but certainly not well enough to make out the eclipse. Tried binos as well but they didn't help. Lulin was well hidden as well:-(