[AZ-Observing] Tonight's Eclipse
- From: SaguaroAstro@xxxxxxx
- To: AZ-Observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 16 May 2003 02:08:35 EDT
OK, Just got in after putting stuff away. I had planned on killing off a roll
of film on this eclipse and glad to say mission accomplished. We'll see how
they turned out at the June Show & Tell.
Anyway, I set up my ETX 60 on the front sidewalk. Considering I eyeballed the
initial home position, as it was still daylight, I hit the alignment on the
nose. I tested the alignment on Jupiter and it was as they say in the UK,
Spot on. I had figured the moon would rise right down the end of my block
which aligns a bit south of due east. My Neighbors house would provide a nice
frame for the moon as it rose. My daughter was out with me and we spotted the
moon rising just where I had predicted after clearing the bushes. The partial
phase was well under way by then and the large moon illusion seemed more
noticeable than usual. It rose with a kind of buttery yellow color on the
sunlit side, The eclipsed side was at this point not noticeable at all even
with bino's. As it rose and the eclipse progressed, the yellowish color gave
way to the usual whitish-gray of the full moon and the eclipsed side started
to appear to the naked eye as well as binos. In the ETX the eclipsed side was
a dark gray, much more so than I expected. By totality, the southern portion
of the moon, nearest the center of the shadow, was exceptionally dark, almost
invisible to the naked eye, barely discernible in binos and Just plain dark
in the ETX. As totality progressed I'd say the color turned to a very dark
rust brown with just the slightest tinge of red. Truly a dark eclipse. I
wonder if there has been any volcanic activity or such to darken the eclipse?
Any one? I shot a bunch of photo's, some using the 50mm lens a few with a
205mm telephoto and a bunch through the ETX. I was guessing on exposures so I
hope I bracketed enough. We'll soon see.
I was also able to share the eclipse with a few of my neighbors. One couple
came out side about 5 minutes before totality after a friend of theirs in
Minnesota called them to ask if they were watching it. Another remembered it
was tonight when he saw the guy across the street (me) with all the
telescoping stuff out. A few passersby enjoyed a look as well.
Well, gotta get my sorry butt up at 0430 to get to work tomorrow, but it was
worth it. I hope every one enjoyed the eclipse as much as I did.
Rick Tejera
Editor SACnews
Saguaro Astronomy Club
Phoenix, Arizona
SaguaroAstro@xxxxxxx
www.saguaroastro.org
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