Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Eclipse at Moonset

NASA ^ | October 09, 2014 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: The Pacific Ocean and Chilean coast lie below this sea of clouds. Seen through the subtle colors of the predawn sky a lunar eclipse is in progress above, the partially eclipsed Moon growing dark. The curved edge of planet Earth's shadow still cuts across the middle of the lunar disk as the Moon sinks lower toward the western horizon. In fact, from this southern hemisphere location as well as much of eastern North America totality, the Moon completely immersed within Earth's shadow, began near the time of moonset and sunrise on October 8. From farther west the total phase could be followed for almost an hour though, the darker reddened Moon still high in the night sky.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit & Copyright: Yuri Beletsky (Las Campanas Observatory, Carnegie Institution)]

[SunkenCiv]

The Big One

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[Telepathic Intruder]

I was going to watch the eclipse, but then I thought “or I could just sleep...”. The problem with astronomy is that the only time to experience it is at night. There are times, however, when it actually fits into my schedule. But, I live in Oregon. When it’s not too cloudy, the moon is usually too bright. And the light pollution is always so bad that I have to drive several miles out of the city.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Saw the eclipse as it was setting at about 0655 the morning of October 9

As I was getting into the security gates, it was a bit later than this photo, so the still-red moon appeared much, much larger and (obviously) closer to the horizon in the very dark western sky.

[SunkenCiv]

Yeah, radioastronomy used to be ideal, because it could operate remotely and the operator just had to make sure there was sufficient recording medium, not a bad day job. Night shift? Grad student or under. Now with CCD optical scopes it’s possible to operate a big scope way up in the mountains in another part of the world, using the internet. :’)

[Telepathic Intruder]

Unfortunately owning a big scope up in a mountain is a little above my pay grade. The most notable amateur astronomers like Edwin Hubble were independently wealthy, by the way. But it was a great use of their time and money.

[Telepathic Intruder]

I've actually seen plenty of them, so things like lunar eclipses and meteor showers don't hold the same fascination as they once did. I swear though, if it's another cloudy morning when the 2017 total solar eclipse occurs here, I'm going to break something. Something expensive that is hard to replace. "Another" because I've already been through one.

Anyway, the red moon during a lunar eclipse and the moon appearing larger near the horizon are interesting phenomenons (phenomenae?) well-explained but interesting nevertheless.

I like this example of the moon illusion explanation:

[Robert A Cook PE]

Very good graphic!

I’ve heard of that comparison being done with a dime (?) being held in front of the moon at arm’s length. Once at the horizon, then later as it moves higher.

Well, technically, “as the horizon rotates towards the east moving lower underneath the moon”. 8<)

[Telepathic Intruder]

The important thing to realize in that graphic is that the cloud’s size gets smaller toward the horizon because its distance increases, while the moon’s does not. Hence our brains get all tricksy on us.