It’s a Blood Red Lunar Eclipse!

by Tom Shafer

January 23, 2019

So, on Sunday evening into Monday morning (January 20-21, 2019), all of North and South America were treated to a fairly rare astronomical extravaganza, a total lunar eclipse. Put simply, a lunar eclipse is an event where the moon appears darkened as it passes through the earth’s shadow. So, as our earth moves directly between the sun and the moon, we cast our shadow on the moon. This is not as dramatic as a solar eclipse (like we experienced in August of 2017), but it is still pretty cool to witness.

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Of course, a lunar eclipse in ancient times created anxiety and fear. The Inca were convinced that a jaguar was attacking the moon (which explained the blood red color) and that it may attack the earth to eat their people. In protection, they would thrust their spears at the moon and make as much noise as possible. Apparently, it worked. The Mesopotamians viewed the lunar eclipse as an assault on their king, so they actually installed a substitute king in anticipation of an attack. Fortunately, no king was ever harmed. Some Native Americans felt that the eclipse signaled a sickness for the moon, and that they must heal it with songs, chants, and prayers. The moon was healed every time.

Weather was going to be a bit of an obstacle this year. On Saturday evening and into early Sunday morning, we experienced blizzard-like conditions that would eventually drop six to seven inches of snow on top of an icy glaze. Fortunately, this storm system was a fast mover, so by 9 a.m., it had pushed on to the East Coast, clearing the skies and pulling Arctic temperatures in behind it. After cleaning snow from the driveway and other areas, I took special care to remove all snow and ice from the sidewalk where I would be standing later that evening. And a cold one it would be. The temperature at the beginning of the partial eclipse was a balmy 1°, and it would eventually fall to -4° when the event was complete. However, outside of a few high clouds early on, it was a perfect night for viewing.

Knowing that most of the eclipse was going to occur directly overhead, I had purchased a tripod that would extend fully to 72 inches, making it much easier for me (and my broken back) to view totality without difficulty. I also made sure that my cameras (a Nikon D40 and a Nikon CoolPix L120) were fully ready and fully charged. At around 9 p.m., I dressed appropriately for the evening’s festivities (long johns top and bottom, three layers atop, jeans, and my best thermal socks) and stepped out to check the sidewalk viewing area. It looked clear and safe, so I set up the tripod and practiced taking pictures of the non-eclipsed moon with the two cameras. Then, I stepped inside to peruse the photos I had taken. Surprisingly (though I shouldn’t have been based on previous experience), my L120 shots looked so much better than the more expensive D40. I would still use both; this was a long duration event that would allow for some experimentation. With practice complete, all systems were go!

Over the next three hours, I stepped out to look at the moon and snap off a few pictures about every fifteen minutes. It was definitely cold, but my excitement as the eclipse progressed more than offset any chill I felt. The cameras performed well (except for one brief moment with a very cold L120) and the tripod was just epic – a brilliant purchase and superb addition to my photography tools! Of course, none of this would have been necessary and possible without a perfectly clear sky.

As the moon entered Earth’s shadow, that section in shadow turned a rusty color (the result of scattered sunlight), and that continued until totality began and ended (from 11:40 through 12:40). The partial eclipses (about an hour on either side of totality) provided great contrast between the moon’s typical whitish reflection and the eclipse’s bloody color. At about 1:15, I slipped out for the last time to view the end of the partial eclipse and take the last of my pictures. Then, as I always do, I finished my evening in the hot tub – though tonight it was a little more dramatic than usual with a waning eclipse – oh, and my coyotes yipping and yawing!

I hope you took the chance to view nature’s astronomical splendor. If not, the next total lunar eclipse (eastern North America) will be May 15-16, 2022. At least we know it will be warmer for that one! Start planning now!

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