Images from the NTU telescope

The above sequence of images shows the beginning of a total lunar eclipse observed by G Wells and D Brown on December 21, 2010 with the Meade ETX-90 at NTU at the labelled times.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the shadow of the Earth. This eclipse is very rare since it happens on the winter solstice or astronomical start of winter, 21 December. The last time this happened was in 1638. What makes it even more special is that the maximum occurs while the Moon is actually setting for Nottingham. Such a selenelion allows you to see the eclipsed Moon and Sun at the same time, but also made it disappear behind low clouds on the day.

Eclipses are the only time the shadow of the Earth falls on the Moon. Lunar phases are never caused by the Earth's shadow! Just try to compare the shape of the illuminated part of the Moon for an eclipse above and with a real lunar phase between full- and half-moon.

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