Date 28Th Sept 2015 Time 00:50 BST Weather Cool, Breezy I – Best Seeing Location Norman Lockyer Observatory, Sidmouth 52.72 De

Date 28th Sept 2015 Time 00:50 BST

Weather Cool, Breezy Seeing Antoniadi Scale I – Best Seeing

Location Norman Lockyer Observatory, Sidmouth 52.72 Deg North 3.52 Deg West

Bortle Dark Sky Class 3 – Rural Sky (Limiting Magnitude 6.6 to 7.0) Scale

Instrument (s) 25x100 Binoculars 2.5 deg field of view

Report

Observing Conditions

 Cold and windy but perfect conditions for observing the eclipse  All observers experiences problems with “Dewing” of their various lens’

Observed The Following

 Lunar Eclipse

Notes

 Seeing Scale set high because although not good conditions for doing astronomy it was perfect conditions for viewing the eclipse.  The full moon on September 28th is a perigee moon. This means that the moon is at its closest point in its lunar orbit to the Earth  This makes it the nearest, the largest and the brightest of the year.  As it’s the closest full moon to the autumn equinox this also makes it the Harvest moon.  Penumbral phase is when the moon passes through the lighter outer part of the Earths shadow. This is barely noticeable to the naked eye.  Umbral phase is when the moon enters the dark umbral shadow.  On first umbral contact the western part of the moon should start to appear subtly shaded darker than normal.  The full show will last 3 hours and 20 minutes  When the moon is totally eclipsed we hope to see the “Blood Moon”  Moon travels East to West and the moon rises 18:46 (Sunday) and Sets 07:20 (Monday)

Astronomy Report For Monday 28th September 2015 Page 1 of 9

• 01:12 BST Moon starts to enter Earth’s Shadow

• 02:07 BST Totality Begin

• 03:11 BST Moon Totally Eclipsed

• 03:47 BST Point of greatest eclipse

• 04:23 BST Totality ends

• 06:22 BST Moon emerges from Earth’s shadow

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Notes contd…

 00:50 BST evening starts well and the excitement begins to mount.  01:12 BST Moon enters outer shadow – Penumbra  01:25 BST No signs yet of any change to the moon.  01:46 BST There are reports that images taken some time apart are starting to show the start of the eclipse. Visually nothing to see and when viewed through my 25x100 binoculars nothing is seen.  01:54 Image of the moon looks sharper, clearer and not as bright. Some lunar features seem to stand out when earlier they were washed out by the light of the full moon.  01:59 A shadow has now appeared on the top left corner of the moon – see image below

01:59 BST First tangible signs that the lunar eclipse has started

Notes contd

 02:06 BST Darkening of the moon now quite noticeable. When viewed through binoculars the effect is quite pronounced and features such as craters are shown in stark relief.  02:07 BST Totality begins. The Lockyer has been set up on the moon. We all file in and observe the moon, it looks quite impressive as the shadow starts to move across the disc.

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Notes contd

 02:12 BST Visually moon has now started to disappear at the top left hand corner but when viewed through binoculars entire disc can be seen, some features that are in darkness can still be seen.  02:18 BST Around 15% of the moon is now in shadow but when viewed through binoculars some light is being reflected of some the features – exciting!  02:29 BST Around 30% of the disc is in shadow. When viewed through binoculars a strip/band of red proceeds the shadow.

02:29 BST The effects of the eclipse can now clearly be seen both with the naked eye and through binoculars

Notes contd

 02:40 BST The moons disc is around 45% obscured. A slight red tint to the disc can now be seen. The constellations like Orion, Taurus and Auriga are now starting to stand out.  02:49 BST The dark side of the moon is now starting to turn a deeper red.  02:55 BST The moon is now 80% in darkness. The side in darkness is developing a nice deep red colour. Dewing of our lenses is now starting to cause problems.

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02:46 BST Nearly gone!

03:04 BST Only 10% to go

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Notes contd

 03:04 BST Only 10% to go and the moon seems to be losing some of its red glow. However images taken using DSLR cameras are capturing the red hue very nicely. The moon looks stunning through binoculars and can be seen in shadow. As for the sky it is starting to look great, the milky way is now prominent in the sky along with all the constellations.  03:12 BST Moon now totally eclipsed. The night sky is amazing and sporadic meteors have been seen by everyone except me! I can still see features such as the Mare on the disc through binoculars and though it is in darkness. The disc can also be seen with the naked eye and we have not yet reached the point of greatest eclipse.  03:15 BST We now have a beautiful blood red moon.  03:38 BST Not long now to the point of greatest eclipse. Blood Moon still visible with the naked eye and through binoculars. Night sky is superb and people are still reporting seeing meteors.  03:47 We have now reached the point of greatest eclipse. Moon is now barely visible to the naked eye and is losing some of its redness.

So it begins picture Helen Smith

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The Blood Red Moon picture by Helen Smith

Notes contd..

 03:51 BST The sky is truly amazing we could do with a sky like this on a Friday night! The moon is dark but still visible. Wispy clouds can be seen reflecting the lights of Sidmouth and Exeter. The odd bird can be heard but the sound of camera’s clicking and bleeping fills the air. The dewing of our lens’ are now causing real problems now where’s that hairdryer.  04:18 BST Signs that the moon is starting to emerge from the Umbra. There is a slight brightening of the upper left portion of the disc.  04:23 BST Totality ends  04:28 BST A bright spot has appeared on the lunar disc at 9 O’clock giving a sort of diamond ring effect.  04:33 BST Around 20% of the moon is now illuminated. Still windy and cool but Venus is now up and putting on a show. In another couple of hours the sun will be up where has the time gone!  04:38 BST 30% ish of the moon is now illuminated  04:47 BST now 45% of the moon is visible to the naked eye.

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03:09 BST Going, going, nearly gone!

Notes contd

 04:53 BST 50% of the moon is now visible. The wind is picking up and starting to howl, the constellations are now starting to fade in the moonlight.  05:00 BST we have 70% illuminated. I have given up on trying to take any further photos or looking through the binoculars as all lens’ are now coated with a heavy Dew!  05:09 BST 80% of the moon now illuminated.  05:18 BST 90% of the moon, starting to feel quite cold  05:31 BST we now have 100% of the moon illuminated, sky now completely washed out  06:22 BST Moon emerges from the Earth’s shadow, its all over, fantastic night!

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The moon emerging from the Umbra picture Helen Smith

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