Lunar Eclipse 2015

Lunar Eclipse 2015

In the early hours of 27th September 2015 we were treated to a celestial spectacle that was a Total Lunar Eclipse. For those who missed it here are a few amateur pics.

This is approx 2.40am

This one sometime later

This is approx 3.30am

The last Total Lunar eclipse was in 1982 and the next one will be in 2033.

When the Moon, Earth and sun all line up so that the earth casts a shadow on the surface of the moon.

Another little twist to this is that at the time of the eclipse the moon is at it's closest to Earth in it's orbit around the Earth. This makes the moon appear 7-8% larger. This is a rare coincidence.

The colour, and shades colour of the Moon during an eclipse is determined by the atmospheric conditions here on earth. The blue/green part of the spectrum is filtered out more than the reds, hence the red/orange/sandy.colours we observe.

You had to be in eastern North America, the UK, Western Africa, and Western Europe to see the full eclipse.

It is apparent that some areas of the UK are now witnessing higher tides than mormal. Reputedly due to the so called Supermoon effect.