Luna Eclipse Friday 16th Sept 2016

[Size9Hex]

I've just spotted that there's a penumbral eclipse tomorrow evening. Haven't seen any chat on the forum (sorry if I missed it) or much elsewhere on t'internet (although an Astrology site did get pretty excited that it was occurring at exactly the same time as a full moon...).

So are penumbral eclipses just a bit unexciting/unimpressive? Is anyone taking a look?

[Debo]

There's a bit of info on http://spaceweather.com/ 

The forecast is clear for me tomorrow evening so I'll be taking a look although I don't expect it will look much different

to an ordinary full moon.

[Stu]

I did spot that on SkySafari, but I suspect it will be hard to spot. The moon is low at the time too I think.

Funny how these events always happen at full moon isn't it? What a coincidence  

[Size9Hex]

Thanks for the replies. The timing with the full moon is uncanny. There's some sort of mystic energy field at work to bring them together apparently...!

[Gina]

No - it's pure physics...

[Size9Hex]

Agreed. I hope I haven't derailed my own thread with a reference to an astrology site that was intended as tongue in cheek. Sorry if didn't come across that way.

Back on track, I'll hopefully take a look myself if the weather is clear, even if there's not much to see. It's nice to contemplate these things even if the visual spectacle isn't all that impressive.

[brantuk]

I find that whenever there's a lunar eclipse of any sort - it always coincides with some wacky astrological prediction - must be something in it lol.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I have in the past had a brief look at a penumbral eclipse, but there is very little to be seen, especially when they are low in the sky. The forecast for tomorrow is pretty dismal here, so even if it was a proper eclipse, I would probably not have a look

[Jim78154]

1 hour ago, Gina said:

No - it's pure physics...

 

Actually it's more geometry than physics.

[Astrobits]

Using Skychart ( CdC ) the maximum eclipse occurs at exactly the same time as the moon rises for me here in the west country. 19:24 for both events. That makes it a poor view for the U.K. this time as we will only see the last part of the eclipse, and penumbral eclipses are not that spectacular to start with.

Nigel

[bejay1957]

2 hours ago, Stu said:

I did spot that on SkySafari, but I suspect it will be hard to spot. The moon is low at the time too I think.

Funny how these events always happen at full moon isn't it? What a coincidence  

Back in 1999 a work colleague was convinced the last total solar eclipse of that millennium was more meaningful as it coincided with a new moon...

[Size9Hex]

7 hours ago, Astrobits said:

Using Skychart ( CdC ) the maximum eclipse occurs at exactly the same time as the moon rises for me here in the west country. 19:24 for both events. That makes it a poor view for the U.K. this time as we will only see the last part of the eclipse, and penumbral eclipses are not that spectacular to start with.

Nigel

That's a good point. Slightly better further east in Hampshire. Looks like we're right on the cusp of it here in the UK.

[bejay1957]

Mottled cloud ensured that while I could tell where the Moon was, I couldn't (and still cannot) actually see the Moon...

[Debo]

Just saw the moon and it looks just the same as normal full moon. 

[Size9Hex]

Occasional glimpses through the clouds here. The highlands surrounding the mares look much less bright in the far north than I recall seeing before. Need to compare against another view as it finishes. But it's not quite the astro event of the century either way :-)

Edit... hope it clears for you Bejay, although you're not missing too much. 

[theclearskiesofthemoon]

It was the same here, mostly clouds with just glimpses of the moon. It cleared enough to properly see the moon a while ago and there was only a hint of a shadow left on the outer rim of the moon. Oh well, on to the next astro event.

[Gina]

I too saw the moon just after it rose above the horizon and looked just like a normal full moon.  I also viewed it's image through a scope and it was round as round could be   I had the moon almost filling the frame on the screen.

[Davey-T]

1 hour ago, Gina said:

I too saw the moon just after it rose above the horizon and looked just like a normal full moon.  I also viewed it's image through a scope and it was round as round could be   I had the moon almost filling the frame on the screen.

Reminded me of this Gina 

Dave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9ZRPdhPS_4

 

[Gina]

Lovely   Thank you

[barkis]

I saw the Moon last night when I let my Dog have a last piddle in the garden before I put him to bed, ( 2130 hrs every night).
As familiar as the full  Moon is, to most of us, I was still mesmerised by the awesome beauty of that sunlit Orb that has been Earth's companion for 
approx. 4 billion years. Sometimes I feel I've been here that long too .
Such a splendid sight naked eye it is, and probably the best way to observe it in view of the intense glare it reflect back at us. Sure, a filter attenuates that, but it dilutes
the splendour of it also. Without a filter, the observing eye becomes inoperative for a while afterwards .
For all our Grumps and moans about our satellite, when thinking  in terms of Astro. Photography,  who among us would prefer not to have it?
Not many I venture to say. Earth itself would react to it not being there, and not in a good way either.

 

[Mark at Beaufort]

I decided to study the full Moon last night with my Apollo 15x70 binos together with ND filters. I used the Sky and Telescope's Moon Map and it was great to check out the various Lunar Maria and look at  craters that created fantastic 'Rays'

I should have mentioned I could not make out the penumbral eclipse shadow

[Size9Hex]

You've got me wondering now Mark. I was using 36x in a 4" frac and thought the area surrounding Mare Frigoris looked dimmer than I recall seeing previously, especially compared with the bright highlands in the Southern Hemisphere. Couldn't see any indication at all of the eclipse with naked eye though. I need to compare what I saw next time I get the chance though, as I've not really observed the moon for the last few months. The full moon really did look great at low mag though, eclipse or otherwise.

[Mark at Beaufort]

30 minutes ago, Size9Hex said:

 The full moon really did look great at low mag though, eclipse or otherwise.

I agree Paul. It was really good to study the Maria and I did enjoy following the Mountains - Jura, Alps, Caucasus, Apennine and Carpathian around the Mare Imbrium. I also studied certain craters - Plato, Copernicius, Kepler, Aristarchus, Grimaldi, Tycho and Langrenus.

Well I don't normally view the Moon around Full but last night was an absolute delight.

[iPeace]

OK, I think I got a pretty good view with my 15x50 IS bins. On my balcony. On my Aegean island.

The Moon was low over the sea, and had a distinct hue, a bit orange I suppose. I concentrated on its shape, and very careful observation revealed that the outer edges seemed to be morphing ever so slightly, as if waves were rising and falling on the surface.

Not long after, all this had stopped and the color had returned to normal. Fun to watch.

Unless I'm just nuts, in which case I'll take it anyway.

[bejay1957]

Clouds persisted all evening.  Had a lovely view of this morning's Moonset though :-)