Lunar Eclipse, Dec. 21, 2010

1/400 sec, F8, -1.7 exposure compensation, 840mm

The sequence of photographs was taken with Canon PowerShot SX30 IS camera during the time span of the lunar eclipse. The first two were at full 30X (840mm). The third picture, during total eclipse, was shot at lesser focal length due to the extreme dim light. You can click each photo to see it in full magnification. The moon was still visible even during total lunar eclipse because of the refraction of atmospheric dust particles. The reddish tint is similar to the ones we commonly see during sunrise or sunset.

This lunar eclipse was special because it occurred during winter solstice. Thus, the moon was at its highest possible position in the sky. This rare coincidence last appeared in 1638; the next one will be in 2094.


JMTMD