A Very Special Blue Moon

[Weather-history]

There will be two full moons during December, the first on the 2nd of December and the second is on the 31st December. The 2nd full moon within a calendar month is often called the blue moon.

This blue moon is special because there will be a partial lunar eclipse as well.

The penumbral stage starts at about 5.15pm

The partial stage starts at about 6.51pm

Maximum partial phase at about 7.22pm, where the far southern limb of the moon will be the umbral shadow

Partial phase ends 7.53pm

Penumbral stages ends about 9.30pm

[Fozfoster]

I didnt know that, cheers

[Weather-history]

More detail info from NASA

http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot2001/LE2009Dec31P.pdf

[snowray]

Fascinating, I always wondered what a blue moon was, does it turn a bit of a blue colour then?

I never thought the mood paid any attention to our man made months, weather there was one full moon or two I mean.

[Weather-history]

A reminder that the eclipse is tonight

[SNOW_JOKE]

Some info for those who cant access the .pdf document. Maximum Partial Eclipse due at 7.22pm, just entered the first stage now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_2009_lunar_eclipse#Map

[Beverley Lass]

A beautiful sight so far

BL

[Weather-history]

Just been outside, notable how southern limb of the full moon is not as bright as the northern limb now.

[frogesque]

Thanks for the heads up - just taken this a couple of mins ago!

[johnholmes]

Thanks for the heads up - just taken this a couple of mins ago!

yes tks for the initial post Kevin and those more recently that prompted me to look out of the window-unusual to me but them I know very little of astronomy-always far too complex for my little mind to comprehend.

[Evening thunder]

Ahh I was thinking there was something a bit odd looking about the moon this evening now the clouds cleared, Then It occurred to me that I thought it looked a bit more like a partial lunar eclipse than just the moons shadow. So thought i'd look on the forum and found this which I had managed to forget about until now!

Looking very nice

[LeeKay]

Nice shot Frogesque, its a bit cold outside for photography isnt it! (i have man-flu too!)

Took a few photos too using a fixed 50mm lens piggybacked onto the meade.

Thanks for the reminder earlier on today.

[meerkat63]

A wonderful view of the moon tonight. Thank you Mr D. for bringing this event to the attention of all, including myself, who would otherwise not have known.

Thanks again. Happy new year.

[frogesque]

Nice shot Frogesque, its a bit cold outside for photography isnt it! (i have man-flu too!)

Took a few photos too using a fixed 50mm lens piggybacked onto the meade.

Thanks for the reminder earlier on today.

Nice crisp shot there with the Meade!

Mine was snapped quickly, hand held Sigma 500mm 1:7.2 on my old Canon D60. You're right - perishin' outside!

[Cookie]

very intresting thanks guys

[Claudia]

Apparently there was a orange blue moon rise last night which only happens every 2.7 years............ Oh look I can do that as well !!!!