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2000 Lunar Eclipse Trio
A trio of images captures the Moon during totality.
AstroPhysics 120 EDT Refractor (5" F/6) + AP 2X Barlow, Kogak Royal Gold 100, f/12
(click to see larger image)
A total lunar eclipse is a celestial event of great beauty. Unlike a total solar eclipse which can only be seen from a very tiny fraction of Earth's surface, a total lunar eclipse is visible to the entire night side of Earth. Few people have witnessed a total solar eclipse, but many have seen its lunar counterpart.
On the evening of Thursday, January 20-21, 2000, a total eclipse of the Moon was visible from all of North and South America including the USA and Canada. From start to finish, eclipse lasted nearly three and a half hours. The partial eclipse began as the Moon's eastern edge slowly moved into the Earth's umbral shadow. During the partial phases, it took just over an hour for the Moon's orbital motion to carry it entirely within the Earth's dark umbra. The Moon took on a vivid redish orange color during the 77 minute long total phase. After totality ended, the partial phases repeated themselves in reverse as the Moon gradually left the umbral shadow. This diagram shows the geometry of the Moon's path through Earth's shadows as well as the times of each phase of the eclipse. For more details about this event, see the NASA web site Total Lunar Eclipse: January 20-21, 2000.
I had just returned from a short trip to Iceland one day before the eclipse and I was looking forward to it with great anticipation. Unfortunately, the weather forecast called for several inches of snow on eclipse day. Sure enough, there were nearly six inches of fresh snow on the ground as I drove home from work that day. The sky was still overcast, but I noticed more and more holes developing as I got closer to home. It was clearing with just a few hours to spare!
After arriving home, I wolfed down a fast dinner and headed out to my concrete observing pad. I needed to shovel off all the snow before I could begin setting up my 5" AstroPhysics refractor and Losmandy G-11 equatorial mount. Working quickly, I managed to get everything ready as the last clouds vanished and the Full Moon rose.
It was a wonderful eclipse in a very cold (15° F), crystal clear sky. Below is a selection of photos taken that evening. I hope they inspire you to watch or photograph a total eclipse of the Moon for yourself.
For a second web page of photos, please visit: 2000 Jan 21 Lunar Eclipse Photo Gallery: Part A.
Click on each image to see a larger photo.
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Lunar Eclipse Animation (TLE2000Anim2)
The Moon was photographed every five minutes during the total lunar eclipse of 2000 Jan 20-21. Adobe ImageReady was used to combine the images into a time lapse movie of the eclipse. Note the changes in the Moon's color during totality. This is due to light variations in Earth's umbral shadow.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 21 (Dunkirk, MD)
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Through the Umbra (TLE2000umbra2w)
This photo is centered on Earth's umbral shadow. It shows the various stages of the eclipse and the Moon's relative position with respect to the umbra during the three and a half hours of the eclipse.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 21 (Dunkirk, MD)
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Eclipse Matrix 1 (TLE2000matrix1w)
The Moon was photographed at five minute intervals throughout the eclipse. By arranging all the images into one grand matrix, you can see every stage of the eclipse from start to finish. The individual images were then scanned into a Macintosh and the final composition was arranged with Adobe Photoshop.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 21 (Dunkirk, MD)
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Eclipse Sequence (T00sequence1w)
This nine image sequence captures the entire eclipse from start to finish.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 21 (Dunkirk, MD)
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8x3 Eclipse Array (TLE2000-8x3w)
Using a series of protographs shot at ten minute intervals, the entire eclipse is revealed in an 8 x 3 array of images. The individual images were then scanned into a Macintosh and the final composition was arranged with Adobe Photoshop.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 21 (Dunkirk, MD)
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Long Eclipse Sequence (TLE2000strip2-11w) The Moon was photographed at twenty minute intervals throughout the eclipse. By arranging all the images into one long sequence, you can see every stage of the eclipse from start to finish (right to left). The individual images were then scanned into a Macintosh and the final composition was arranged with Adobe Photoshop.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 21 (Dunkirk, MD)
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Eclipse Matrix 2 (TLE2000matrix2w)
The Moon was photographed at ten minute intervals throughout the eclipse. By arranging all the images into one grand matrix, you can see every stage of the eclipse from start to finish. The individual images were then scanned into a Macintosh and the final composition was arranged with Adobe Photoshop.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 21 (Dunkirk, MD)
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Ultra Eclipse Sequence (TLE2000strip1-30w) The Moon was photographed at 7.5 minute intervals throughout the eclipse. By arranging all the images into one ultra long sequence, you can see every stage of the eclipse from start to finish (left to right). The individual images were then scanned into a Macintosh and the final composition was arranged with Adobe Photoshop.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 21 (Dunkirk, MD)
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Eclipse Series (TLE2000series1w)
This eleven image series captures the entire eclipse from start to finish.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 21 (Dunkirk, MD)
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Eclipse Matrix 3 (TLE2000matrix3w)
The Moon was photographed every several minutes throughout the eclipse. By arranging a series of images into a 5x5 matrix, you can see every stage of the eclipse from start to finish.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 21 (Dunkirk, MD)
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Eclipse Portrait (TLE2000port1w)
The partial phases and totality are captured in a portrait of the eclipse.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 21 (Dunkirk, MD)
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Partial Sequence 1 (TLE2000partial1w)
The partial phases before totality are captured in a series of images.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 21 (Dunkirk, MD)
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Total Sequence 1 (TLE2000total1w)
As the Moon slowly passes through Earth's dark umbral shadow, it takes on different shades of orange and red. The varios stages of the totality are captured in a series of images.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 21 (Dunkirk, MD)
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Partial Sequence 2 (TLE2000partial2w)
The partial phases after totality are captured in a series of images.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 21 (Dunkirk, MD)
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All photographs, text and web pages are © Copyright 2007 by Fred Espenak, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. They may not be reproduced, published, copied or transmitted in any form, including electronically on the Internet or WWW, without written permission of the author. The photos have been digitally watermarked.
The photographs may be licensed for commercial, editorial, and educational use. Contact Espenak (at MrEclipse) for photo use in print, web, video, CD and all other media.
WebMaster: MrEclipse
Last revised: 2008 Feb 01
