July Total Lunar Eclipse

There are very few astronomical events for which we need not leave our house, or have telescopes, filters or worry about light pollution. One such event is Lunar eclipse, an astronomical event that can be seen from where we live and without any optical aid or equipment.  

This time on 27th July the eclipse happens when moon is high in the sky so no worries of buildings and trees blocking the view.  

Here are the times of the eclipse. Moon will enter Penumbral shadow at 10:45pm on 27th July this is hard to notice as the change in brightness is very less. Moon will start entering the Umbral shadow at 11:55pm, partial eclipse phase, from here we easily see the change in brightness. Moon will be completely inside Umbral shadow from 1:00am, here we say Moon is in total eclipse phase.

 The totality will end at 2:44am when Moon will start becoming brighter. As moon comes out of totality we can see partial eclipse phase as some portion of Moon will be in dark and other will be in brightness. Moon will come out of Partial phase at 3:45am. The Moon will come out of Penumbral shadow at 4:48am.

We urge you watch this amazing celestial show which is viable from all our India

Share

Watch Lunar Eclipse at Planetarium, Bangalore

Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium is organizing Lunar Eclipse viewing at planetarium campus, Bangalore. Interested public can visit planetarium and enjoy the eclipse and get questions answered about eclipse and astronomy.

The event is from 6:15pm to 8:45pm on January 31st. 2018. Association of Bangalore Amateur Astronomers (A.B.A.A) members will also be there to help public understand and enjoy the eclipse.

Share

Total Lunar Eclipse - 2011: a poor show at Bangalore

The eclipse that was awaited for long, an eclipse for which many budding amateur astrophotographs were waiting for turned out to be a poor show. The clouds that have been haunting us throughout this observing season turned out in full force and ensured that we only got a partial show of the total eclipse. There was a sizeable crowd that waited patiently - some even beyond 10 pm - but it was a largely disappointing show.

Some of our members who had traveled outside Bangalore seemed to have a better story to tell. We await their report and/or pictures. Here are some pictures taken during the public show at JNP grounds, Bangalore.


Chandrainsky

Share

Total Lunar Eclipse June 15th 2011

It's been a while since the last total lunar eclipse we witnessed in this part of the world. Way back in 2008 August 17^th morning at around 2am we had partial eclipse. The last total lunar eclipse we had the opportunity to observe was in 2007 March. This year we have two total lunar eclipses coming up. First one is on June 15^th and the second is on December 10^th 2011.

June 15^th Lunar eclipse details:

The penumbral eclipse begins at 10:54pm IST, this is hard to detect as the difference in the brightness of the Moon is very less. The umbral eclipse will start at 11:52 IST and we will start to see the moon entering the shadow. The moon will be in total eclipse from 12:52am IST to 02:32am IST. The moon will start coming out the umbral shadow after 02:32am and will be completely out of the umbral shadow cone at 3:32am IST. This will mark the end of noticeable change in the moon's brightness and color, the moon will emerge from the penumbral shadow at 4:30am IST.

Altitude of Moon during Eclipse:

Moon will be at an altitude of 56 degrees above the horizon at the beginning of the penumbral eclipse, well placed above trees and buildings if we are observing from city. Maximum eclipse is when the Moon is at the center of the umbral shadow, this happens at approximately 1:42am IST the moon's altitude will be 46degrees from the horizon. At the time when the Moon completely comes out of the umbral shadow the altitude will be 31 degrees.

Color of Moon during Total Lunar eclipse:

Due to the atmospheric refraction moon may appear dark brown and red to bright orange and yellow depending on the amount and type of dust present in the atmosphere.

French astronomer André-Louis Danjon (6 April 1890 – 21 April 1967) developed a scale depending on the brightness and color of the moon during total eclipse.

L=0 Very dark eclipse, Moon is almost invisible, especially at mid-totality.

L=1 Dark eclipse, gray or brownish in coloration, Details are distinguishable only with difficulty.

L=2 Deep red or rust-colored eclipse, Very dark central shadow, while outer umbra is relatively bright.

L=3 Brick-red eclipse, Umbral shadow usually has a bright or yellow rim.

L=4 Very bright copper-red or orange eclipse umbral shadow has a bluish, very bright rim.

The readings can be taken from observing through naked eye, binoculars and small telescopes. Hope we all get chance to observe, enjoy and photograph the event.

Total Lunar Eclipse on December 10^th 2011:

The Umbral eclipse begins at 6:15pm on the 12^th of December 2011. Moon will be at an altitude of 18degrees from the eastern horizon. Total eclipse will begin at 7:37pm IST and will be in totality till 8:26pm IST. The moon will be at an altitude of 41degrees from the eastern horizon during maximum eclipse which will occur at 8:00pm IST. Moon will emerge completely out of umbral shadow at 9:48pm IST.

Share

Partial Lunar Eclipse

We begin this new year with Partial Lunar Eclipse, good 'omen' for us amateur astronomers. On January 1st, 2010 the Moon will be partly covered by Earth's shadow, but, the coverage will be very less. The Eclipse will start at 00:26am and ends at 1:18am. The maximum shadow coverage will be about 1'47”. Hope the skies will be clear by then. The Lunar Eclipse will be visible from Bangalore and also from all parts of India.

Moon will enter the Penumbral shadow at 10:46 pm, 31st December 2009.

Moon will enter the Umbral shadow at 00:26 , 1st January 2010.

Moon will leave the Umbral shadow at 1:18am, 1st January 2010.

Moon will leave the Penumbral shadow at 2:56am 1st January 2010.

Share