FULL LUNAR ECLIPSE auspiciously on the Winter Solstice

The most magical FULL LUNAR ECLIPSE auspiciously on the Winter Solstice, this morning, proved it was worth braving a frozen landscape to find the best viewing spot.

Surfing icy roads, we ended perched high up on the snow covered sea cliff just in time to peer at the orangy-redish the moonshadow slowing creep over the moon, through our telescope.

The shimer of the moons reflection over the calm ocean and the sound of the waves crashing far below made it an unforgettable experience!  WOW

Total Lunar Eclipse - Winter Solstice 21 Dec 2010

*weak reflection of the moon out from the sea cliffs over the ocean waters

 

Total Lunar Eclipse - Winter Solstice 21 Dec 2010

Total Lunar Eclipse - Winter Solstice 21 Dec 2010

Total Lunar Eclipse - Winter Solstice 21 Dec 2010

Total Lunar Eclipse - Winter Solstice 21 Dec 2010

This is the total eclipse hence no moon. It did actually leave a sort of redish, orangish moon behind but our frozen digital camera refused to record the 'moon shadow at all' - still we have our memories.

An auspicious time

Total Lunar Eclipse on the Winter Solstice 6.32am - 8.53 UK time. (Total Eclipse at 7.40am)

The Moon will be very low in the west-north-western sky, close to the horizon and in a rapidly brightening sky.

From locations in Scotland and Northern Ireland, totality will be visible in its entirety, but the Moon will be low down after the time of greatest eclipse.
 
see http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20101220/tuk-winter-solstice-marked-by-eclipse-6323e80.html