The Moon has to one of the best objects for observing. You can just look up and its there! With binoculars you get a great view with many features showing prominently.

A telescope brings out the best of the moon. You get fantastic views of mountains, craters, rays, gullies and much more.

The best time to view the moon is when its NOT full. The line of shadow that passes down the face of the moon (the terminator) exposes many features such as crater walls, mountain escarpments etc, etc. When the moon is full many of the features are 'washed out' as the moon is so bright.

The moon is also responsible for causing light pollution! When the moon is nearly full the sky is so bright you have no chance of seeing deep sky objects - ironic really! It's odd how most clear nights in the UK seem to coincide with a full moon......

 


 

The current phase of the Moon

 

 

Total Lunar Eclipse 9th January 2001 

The following pictures were taken by myself using a digital camera held to a 32mm sirius plossl eyepiece on my 150mm reflector. Conditions for viewing or photography were not ideal as there was high cloud and fog.

The start of the eclipse was hard to detect due to the cloud and fog and I didn't get my first real view until a little after 7pm UT. The 'glow' around the photographs is due to the fog. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the moon during totality - there wasn't enough light for the camera to pick it up.

During totality the Moon was lighter towards the north western limb with the rest of the Moon gradually becoming darker in various shades of dull red, orange and brown. During totality it was possible to see stars very close to the limb of the moon. I identified 63 Gem Mag 5.22, HR 2835 mag 6.54 and BD+22 1687 mag 6.78 - they were quite a sight so close to the Moon.

A little before 9pm UT the moon emerged from Earths shadow. The terminator then appeared to move very quickly across the face of the Moon. The last picture taken at 9:35pm UT was literally the last view I had of the moon that night before the cloud and fog finally obscured it.

To view the eclipse run your mouse slowly over the links below to see the changes take place.

Lunar eclipse 7:05 UT.
Lunar eclipse 7:15 UT.
Lunar eclipse 7:30 UT.
Lunar eclipse 7:45 UT.
Lunar eclipse 8:58 UT.
Lunar eclipse 9:10 UT.
Lunar eclipse 9:25 UT.
Lunar eclipse 9:35 UT.

Find out how to calculate the phase of the Moon for years to come, visit this site.

 Visit Lunarviews.com to see more photos taken with a digital camera and a 6" reflector.

Here is a good example of what the moon will look like in a 6" reflector.  All of these pictures were taken at the eyepiece of a 6" f/5 telescope using a 25mm eyepiece and a 9mm eyepiece with a 2x barlow.  They were taken with a Casio QV10a digital camera held in the observers hand.

Thanks to Sandy Wagner for providing these pictures.

 

 

 

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