Eclipse Tonight - Pacific Basin

[Angelsheart]

Get ready for total lunar eclipse
August 26, 2007 04:04pm
Article from: Agence France-Presse

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THE moon will fall into Earth's deep shadow on Tuesday, taking on a lustrous red or orange hue during the second total eclipse of 2007.

Star gazers will be able to watch as our planet's natural satellite is consumed by celestial dragons, as the Chinese once thought.

Those in the Pacific basin, from eastern Australia to the west coast of the north America, will be treated to the full eclipse at 10.37 GMT (8.37pm AEST) and a couple hours before sunrise in Los Angeles and Vancouver.

The perfect spot for spectators will be French Polynesia, according to NASA, but the eclipse will not be visible at all in Europe or Africa.

The moon does not disappear from view during a full eclipse, but is shielded by Earth for about 90 minutes from the sun's direct light.

The longest possible duration for the total phase is 107 minutes, and last occurred in July 2000.

A total eclipse can only take place at full moon, and only if the moon passes through the zone, called the umbra, in which the Earth blocks all of the sun's rays.

The colour cast by refracted light - which can range from bright orange to blood red to copper to dark grey - depends on the amount of volcanic gas and dust in the atmosphere blocking the sun's light.

In the absence of recent eruptions, the moon should be a vivid red or orange, according to NASA.

Total lunar eclipses normally occur roughly every couple of years, but this year there will have been two, the other having taken place on March 3.

The next chance to see the moon slip entirely into terrestrial shadows will be on February 21, 2008, but after that the wait is longer: December 2010.

Further details on these eclipses and information on eclipses in general can be found on http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/lunar.html

[Vexo]

Bastards

[Melodionxxx]

Was pretty spectacular in Auckland

MeloxXx

[Thoraf]

Took some happy snaps of what we saw. we had some cloud cover etc which was dissapointing but got some decent views in. Through my binoculars was the best but might post a shot.

Wasn't very good results, so not going to rush

[roobboo]

Cloud in Brisbane buggered it up. I heard a rumour Sydney did well though

[Micahle]

We had clear skies out here, looked good

[Kysumu]

Wasn't interested in this but I am still going to brag a little.

Yesterday I just got back from Seven-Spirit-Bay in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.

We were lucky enough to have a Sunset evening which involved us sitting on the beach drinking watching the sun going down across the water and then turning around watching the moon change colours.

I didn't take to many pictures because I was to busy drinking to be bothered but others did so I will try to get some up on the web.

[Miruwin]

Oh hell Ky. It has been my ambition to spend a couple of weeks up at 7 Spirits for at least 15 years. Closest I got to it was a few days over on the Tiwi Islands a couple of weeks around the Darwin area and a couple of weeks rough camping around Roper River.

[Verroth]

blah, couldn't see it from here:( someone post a pic of it on wreckerspics:P