Full Lunar Eclipse - December 10, 2011

[Dorrena Ortega]

"The last eclipse of 2011 will be a total lunar eclipse on December 10. Depending on where you live on Earth’s globe, the eclipse will happen either before dawn or that evening.

Much of North America will be in a position to watch the eclipse of the full moon before sunrise on Saturday, December 10. The far northwestern parts of North America (and also Hawaii) get to watch the entire eclipse from start to finish. The eastern and southern parts of North America will see only the beginning stages of the eclipse or no eclipse at all.

Since this is the closest full moon to the December 21 winter solstice, we in the Northern Hemisphere often call this particular full moon the Long Night Moon."
http://earthsky.org/tonight/lunar-eclipse-for-north-america-before-sunrise-december-10

Pacific Standard Time (USA) I hear it will start around 3am Saturday morning 12/10 and be full between 6 and 7am. It's suppose to turn red. Keep your fingers crossed for clear skies. Good luck everyone!

[Elin (@lluniau)]

Good luck everyone! Only a partial eclipse visible here in th UK at about 3pm...

[J A Byrdlip]

Let us pray for clear weather. Not that getting up at 5 am is anything new for me, but on a saturday/

[Pam Fairweather]

What's the best setting to use on a point and shoot camera? I know that's generic but what would you do- put the camera on a tripod?

[Dorrena Ortega]

@pamelaf --- it's really siimple. Select the infinity setting. Push the zoom out as far as it will go and drop the exposure control down 2 full stops. That's as far as it will adjust up or down. Use the time, too. This will allow the image to settle before it takes the shot.

[Terry Beigie]

I don't think I can view it at all from Virginia ... or can I? :)

[Dorrena Ortega]

@pamelaf --- Oh, tripod, definately.

[Dorrena Ortega]

@terek55 --- Did you look at the link? There are timetables for viewing.

[Pam Fairweather]

@dmortega Thanks! I will see if I can either stay up really late or wake up really early!
I think we're due for very clear skies again tonight. A little on the chilly side, though!

[Dorrena Ortega]

@pamelaf --- Be sure to check the timetables on the link.

[Amy G.]

I am going to give this a whirl, even though I don't know what I'm doing! I struggle with moon shots.....the moon seems to get blown out in order to get detail in the sky. I believe I'll be able to see the eclipse just before sunrise so it should be starting to get light out. What sort of ISO/aperture/shutter speed do you usually use for moon shots?

[Dorrena Ortega]

@amers79 ---- That is true for me too. It sounds like it will take some time to complete the cycle so could be a great time to try creating some HDR pictures in addition to a detail of the moon itself. I use a point and shoot camera so don't have the answers you need. Many others take great moon pictures. Try searching here for moon pictures and see what the Exif info says.

[Elin (@lluniau)]

@amers79 @dmortega I've always used ISO 100. You're shooting at a light source, remember (although during a full eclipse this may be too little?). But I'm no expert, mind. Is @foolmoon not around these days?...

[Sondra Sarra]

I will have to check this out. i am not sure I will see it in my neck of the woods. Northern VT.

[Julia Metcalfe]

The east coast of Australia, where I am, is supposed to get a decent view of the eclipse. Sadly, it looks as if we'll be covered in clouds. Again.

[Peter de Graaff]

For eastern Australia and far eastern Asia, it is midnight, and for New Zealand, it is after midnight (on December 11). Once again, the map depicts the day and night sides of Earth at the instant of the greatest eclipse. @jools

[Julia Metcalfe]

@peterdegraaff - I'll still be up at midnight and hope the clouds will have gone by then. Fingers crossed.

[ABH Images]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/news/dec2011-eclipse.html MOre information about where and when it will occur. East Coast USA, sorry, it sounds like it will be difficult to see anything after it begins. West Coast, GOOD LUCK! It looks like it will be good one.

[Jordan Anderson (icywarm)]

5:30am cannot come fast enough... thank goodness for icy cold clear nights... only minus 20.

[Jann]

5 am the clouds took over- dang, one more hour would have been nice.

[Dorrena Ortega]

Checking in from Shoreline, Wa 4:30am ..... I've got a front row seat and spectacular view. I'm going out to play around with my camera settings to see what I can get for the big moment.

ACK!!! The clouds are rolling in but there are breaks. The camera is positioned and ready. Keeping my fingers crossed the clouds will cooperate this morning.

Really???? Reallly????!!!! 4:40am The clouds have totally obscured any view. I did get a couple of pictures, though. Not much to see. ACK!!!! I'll wait it out.

There are breaks in the clouds. 5:10 I've gotten a few pictures so far.

[Megan Richardson]

heavy cloud cover out there now damn! Doesn't look like it will clear within the next 30mins-1hr, so no eclipse photos for me :-(

[Dorrena Ortega]

At this moment it looks like a smile in the sky. :-)

[Nikkers]

just saw it, didnt have my tripod and it was too bloody cold for me to stay out longer. but it was clear and strong,.... I wish I had of got a photo of it at 4.30PM it was amazing... just rising and HUGE.. come on over to North Bend... lol @dmortega

[Dorrena Ortega]

@nikkers --- it's plenty cold here, thanks. ;-) The clouds are taking over here too but I got a few pictures. It should be 100% covered at this moment.

[Boozy Soozy]

It was amazing here in Perth, an absolutely cloudless sky and a huge red moon, just wish I had been at home with my DSLR, snapped a few with the point and shoot so will see what I've got tomorrow.

[Jann]

Clouds cleared for some eclipse shots- didnt get the red from my view but definite eclipse- Very cold-hope the camera survived better than my fingers..

[Dorrena Ortega]