Sunday, December 5, 2010

Space Goings On for December


Finally, after almost 3 years we will be treated to a Total Lunar Eclipse starting at 1:32 am EST. December 21. I took the above image during the last Total Lunar Eclipse, February 20, 2008. If you live in North America and miss this one you'll be waiting awhile for the next...April 2014. If you look real close, preferably with binocs just before and right after totality you'll see a beautiful turquoise color, like the above image.

During a Lunar Eclipse, the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, you see the reddish brown on the Moon as the result of the Sunlight going through the Earth's stratosphere which absorbs the blues and allows the reds through to the Moon's surface, much like our lower atmosphere does during Sunrises/sets. Just before and after totality some of the Sunlight reaches into the Ozone layer which absorbs the reds and allows the blues through to the Lunar surface, just an fyi. Later that day, we have the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, now the good thing about that is after it occurs the days will be getting longer, sweet.


December 13th look to the East for the Geminids Meteor Shower, they have actually started right now but will peak in numbers around 2 am, EST. December 14. If not for my Fisheye lens I would not have been so lucky to capture the low Geminid back in 2008. I was actually out to capture an Ursid Meteor in the Big Dipper near the end of December when by a total fluke caught the latecomer Geminid. Cool thing about low meteors is the dust in the lower atmosphere tends to make them more colorful, like the green above.


On December 18th the Moon and Pleiades will be getting together. If you can score a pair of binocs do so. They are a perfect celestial couple and look awesome through them and since the Moon will be near full it will kind of wash out the Pleiades, the binocs will help make them more visible. I will give reminders here as well and weather permitting take and post the images here.

35 comments:

Grumpy old man said...

Hi, thanks for sharing, not sure if we in South Africa will be able to see it.

Have a great day!

Colin.

Stephanie Barr said...

Cool beans. I love a good lunar eclipse.

polen said...

It is really interesting

Jackie said...

Thanks for this information Bob. I wrote down my camera settings when I was able to grab the Blue moon.

I hope we have a clear night here where I am at. I will try to get a shot of this moon also!!

Have a great day!
Jackie

Bob Johnson said...

Sorry Colin South Africa won't be able to see any of the eclipse this time round, good news though, you'll be able to see the one on June 15 2011.

Bob Johnson said...

For sure Stephanie.

Bob Johnson said...

Good luck with the weather Marvin.

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Polen

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Jackie, good luck with the weather.

Anne Vis said...

Great shots and info, Bob, thanks for sharing!

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks a lot Anne.

Erica said...

Thank you a lot ..

Lynda Lehmann said...

Sounds great, Bob. Hope I get to witness some of these sky events.

Your top photo is exquisite.

It's good to have you back here blogging!

RW said...

I'm looking forward to Geminids Meteor Shower Bob cross your fingers for clear sky's want to catch some excellent trails. I knew you would have the straight dope on it. :)

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Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Erica.

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Lynda, good to be back, good luck with your weather

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Roger, good luck with the weather out there.

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks NASA blog guy, have added.

Priyank said...

Hello Bob! How have you been? I'm visiting after ages I know..!

I will remember to transmit a picture of this eclipse from Toronto. Hopefully I get to see something since I live in almost downtowm.

cheers.
Priyank

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Bob Johnson said...

Good to hear from you again Priyank, doing great and yes send me pics, you will see it perfectly from downtown Toronoto, I will post here and on FB.

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Brooklyn, you're added under cool blogs.

Steve Parry said...

I caught the Geminids Meteor Shower. I was driving in Minnesota that night with a clear sky and got to see a lot of action.

myonlyphoto said...

Hey Bob I remember the one in Feb 2008. I actually went out to photograph, but I was pregnant then, and we had some good laughs chasing the moon that day, because I had difficulty moving around on the back of the seat. I was trying to stay away from the cold, lol.

Well still overcast here ....

Bob you take care of yourself, and again happy holidays!

Anna :)

Nature Nut /JJ Loch said...

Great post, Bob! December is a busy month in the sky.

Wasn't the total lunar eclipse EXCITING!!! I posted a pic on my blog. :D Yes, you are the one who encourages one to freeze their fingers off for winter shots of the sky. :D

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR, DEAR.


Blessings,
JJ

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks JJ, it was very exciting, even though it was like a gazillion below, ha, frozen fingers, frozen everything. Awesome pic JJ!, will do a post with images on the adventure later this week.

AngelBaby said...

I am sorry to say I have miss all of these, darn!

Love and Blessings,
AngelBaby

Bob Johnson said...

Cool Steve.

Bob Johnson said...

Ha, I remember that night very well Anna, Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Bob Johnson said...

Too Bad AngelBaby, Merry Christmas.

Anonymous said...

HOW BLACK HOLES FORM.

Black holes only form where mass is.

every galaxy has a black hole in the centre of the massive mass / centre. do black holes form from massive mass?

seen as i have know idea about black holes. are there any black holes away from stars / mass?

if there is, do they go away after a small time.

it seams that the force of mass, or a massive force makes black holes appear / come.

I do remember a long time ago someone said a massive star blowing up, formed a black hole, but it went away shortly after that.

mass is also force. i could see how that would be right. if a star did blow up with that much force = mass, let alone mass near by, it would form a black hole, but if the massive force goes away, the black hole will to. this is why most black holes are in the centre of galaxy's.

well the black holes in the centre will stay for a very long time to the others in the milky way. there can not be any or many near the edge of a galaxy. but if there are any just out of the centre, they will be smaller and the more away from the centre, the smaller they will be. as long as they have finished eating.

Without mass, black holes would not be.

scott ryan AU

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