E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Julie Jacobson / AP
A lunar eclipse is seen framed within Turret Arch at Arches National Park near Moab, Utah, on Dec. 10. This total lunar eclipse, which occurs when Earth gets directly between the moon and the sun, will be the last of its kind until April 2014.
Did you catch today's total lunar eclipse? Take a good, long look at these pictures of the dusky dark moon: It'll be more than two years before we see a fresh batch.
The best seats in the house for today's spectacular were in Asia. A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon is positioned just right in its orbit to pass through Earth's shadow. Today, that occurred when Asia and the Pacific were facing right at the moon. Other regions of the world, including some areas of Europe and the western U.S. and Canada, could catch at least part of the show before sunrise or after sunset. Here's a sampling of the snapshots:
Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP
This photo combination shows the different stages of the moon during Saturday's lunar eclipse as seen from the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP
A lunar eclipse and the Hollywood sign are seen from the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
Tim Wimborne / Reuters
The earth's shadow falls on the moon as it undergoes a total lunar eclipse above the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia on Dec. 11 local time.
Yoshikazu Tsuno / AFP - Getty Images
A partial lunar eclipse is seen near the Tokyo Tower on Dec. 10. People across Japan were in the prime viewing zone for the total eclipse.
Koji Sasahara / AP
The moon turns red as the earth passes between the moon and the sun during the total lunar eclipse, as seen from Tokyo.
I watched the onset of the eclipse's total phase from our deck, east of Seattle, but the clouds closed in partway through the 51-minute window of totality. Did you see the moon's red glow? Leave a comment below, and if you captured a great picture, point us to it and we just might add it to the roundup.
So if it's a total eclipse, why didn't the moon go totally dark? The lunar surface takes on that dusky appearance during a total eclipse because some sunlight is refracted around Earth by our planet's atmosphere. It's as if the glow of a thousand sunsets is directed toward the moon. This report explains the physics that's involved.
Although there'll be some partial eclipses of the moon in 2012 and 2013, our next dose of lunar eclipse totality won't come until April 15, 2014. But next November, a total solar eclipse will be visible from a narrow track that stretches across northern Australia and the South Pacific. Stay tuned for that one ... and in the meantime, check out these links to eclipse pictures and lore:
- PhotoBlog gallery of lunar and solar eclipses
- Interactive: What causes a lunar eclipse?
- Nine cool facts about the lunar eclipse
- Why an eclipse paints the moon red
Alan Boyle is msnbc.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter and adding the Cosmic Log page to your Google+ presence. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.
Leave a Comment:
Cool pics but it was way better in real time.
Seems that movie (real time) is better than the book (pictures) eh?
Its about the reality and not the imagery. eh?
the technology's an aside. what it comes down to is either you witnessed the lunar eclipse first person or you didn't. today's technology makes for pretty images to be shared as memories but actual observation places you among the few.
A beautiful sight here in Los Osos, Central California @ approx. 6:13am, before sunrise
Agreed--there is no substitute for experiencing it in person. Last year, I watched the Winter Solstice lunar eclipse with some friends at my astronomy club's observatory, and it was amazing, by far my favorite holiday memory for that season. The weather was cold, with temperatures in the 20s and a cold wind; plus it was late at night, with totality at 3:17 am, but there is nothing like actually being there and being part of something so beautiful and mysterious.
I witnessed it and I agree that the pics don't really capture the moment. I wasn't planning to be up to see it but somehow it happened and it was awesome. I see it as a tribute to my mother's recent passing. The planets aligned for her transition because she was an extraordinary person and a great voice for Watts, CA
What time did it happen? I live in San Diego, but didn't see it...
it happened just before sunrise, around 5ish
Totality started at 6:06 a.m. PT and lasted 51 minutes. But you could watch the partial phase unfold starting at 4:45 a.m. PT, and there was a partial phase after the total as well. Sorry you missed it...
Overhead clouds prevented from us seeing it from our vantage point and I have never been on the Moon. Must have been terrific to witness and I'm grateful for those who take and share their photos of such events.
these are signs of tyms,the bible clearly states that the signs shal be on moon stars and sun.lets keep on praying because the our of the Lord is at hand.dont just look at it as a mere event,we dont have to be caught unaware as if we do not read.may our good Lord help us to watch and pray always.
It's an eclipse...not an omen, not a sign of end times. Just the result of the regular orbiting of the moon around the earth and the earth around the sun.
Stop being delusional...see a psychiatrist about your fears.
@Josi: Do they actually let you use the computer with no one in attendance?
Josiah, sorry to say that you are the emblem of what is wrong with the world today: Ignornance.
yeah dude, like they never had eclipses in the past. there are several lunar eclipses per year, every year, and it's been that way for billions of years (no not 6000 years).
anyway, got up around 4 to see the beginning of totality, went back to bed and actually had a dream about the eclipse, then got up around 5:45 and watched as the reddish moon set and the sky lightened.
Time to step away from the punch bowl....
Dark Side of the Moon forever!
No thanks. We're done with the GOP dark side.
.
Witnessed here in Riverside, CA. @ 0500hrs...............eerie.
Clouded over here, BUMMER!
I actually watched the one from my Spanaway WA back yard a few years back. Went thru all the phases start to finish about 2 hrs of totality. When at maximum it was directly in the top of the moon's arc. Completely clear sky, nice deep red it was spectacular!
Beautiful, images very eye catching helps you see the full scheme of the universe and your little niche inside it.
As I could not witness this eclipse live, the pics are appreciated : )
Living in the eastern USA prevented at the eyepiece viewing, but certainly enjoyed the coverage on SLOOH Space Camera. Excellent!!
Here in central Indiana, coming to work at 7 am the Sun was just below the eastern horizon, the Moon was full and just above the western horizon. Obvioulsy we did not see the eclipse here, but we had a great view of the pieces that made it happen!
Here's a link
to a photo of the eclipse I shot while hanging out on the beach on the North Shore of Oahu. Taken at at about 5am.
You guys are welcome to add it to the blog post but please give me credit and inform me : )
Anthony, you have to build up some Newsvine cred before they let you post links, but if you spell out the link... for example: just say www-dot-msnbc-dot-com / coolphoto.html ... I think that will work. Or you can send it to me at alan-dot-boyle-at-msnbc-dot-com.
tinyurl dot com slash czkdqda
Thanks Alan! : )
wowser great photo
Yeah, saw it from the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. Unusual to have clear skies to see it.
I think this is the first time in about fifteen years that we in the Pacific Northwest were privy to actually witness this lunar eclipse. I watched it from my west facing window in the comfort of my living room. Awsome. I awoke spontaneously about 4 a.m. and stayed up to witness this relatively rare opportunity. Very cool, indeed.
Seeing it in person was DEFINITELY better than any photo on the web. I went out with one of my daughters in Las Vegas and watched from starting shadow to the last minute it went behind the mountains. Took some great pictures...One of the coolest memories I will share with my daughter....
Watched it over the Las Vegas Strip. Here's a photo link:
James, links won't come through for you until you've been around the blog for a while (this is an anti-spam measure) ... you can either send the pic to me (see e-mail above) or spell out the link n a follow-up message.
sigh.... to cloudy here to see it.
Imagine standing on the Moon during this eclipse, and viewing a SOLAR eclipse by the Earth. Now, that would be really cool.
BTW, I saw the first half of this eclipse from Denver around 6:00 - 6:30 AM today.
100% overcast in Okinawa, it's a no-go. Too bad. Nice to see those pictures above, though. Thanks everyone!
It's George W Bush's fault
Viewed the event from Reno looking over the Sierra Nevada mountains. Set up the camera, but very thin clouds were enough to not allow a crisp shot. After being out just 20 minutes, my fingers began to feel like the legs on my tripod as the temp was 19 degrees F. Back inside the house, made a hot buttered rum and watched the rest of the show through the windows. That was nice, too.
Just after totality, I checked with Flickr, a photo sharing site, and shots of the eclipse were pouring in from all over the globe. Looked like many were experiencing some degree of upper atmosphere disturbance. One from Australia was especially nice. I am sure the pros will be posting soon enough.
oo, man, whoever took that picture at arches must have been nuts. it's CHILLY out there! granted, they're usually a little warmer down there in moab, but up here just a couple hours away it's to the single digits! brrrr!