Lunar Eclipse Photo Gallery 2

Portrait of Totality
(TLE2000-48+50)

The continental U.S.A.'s most recent total lunar eclipse occurred on 2000 Jan 20-21. Many people managed to catch a glimpse of the event despite frigid temperatures and snow storms.During the total phase, the Moon's brighness dropped a thousand fold and took on a copper-orange color.This odd appearance is due to the fact that Earth's atmosphere filters out all the blue and green light so that only orange and red sunlight reaches the Moon.

Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 21 (Dunkirk, MD)
AstroPhysics 130 EDF + Nikon N70: Kodak Royal Gold 400, f/12, 15 sec; 04:37 UT
Photo ©2000 by Fred Espenak

Eclipse Matrix 2
(TLE2000matrix2)

The Moon was photographed at ten minute intervals throughout the total lunar eclipse of 2000 Jan 20-21. 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)
AstroPhysics 130 EDF + Nikon N70: Kodak Royal Gold 100 and 400, f/12
Photo ©2000 by Fred Espenak

Totality in Triplicate
(LE00-Trio2)

This trio of images captures the Moon at the beginning (right), middle (center) and end (left) of totality during the lunar eclipse of 2000 Jan 20-21.The differences apparent in the Moon's color and brightness are due to variations in the Earth's umbral shadow.A 5" AstroPhysics refractor (130EDF) was used at f/12, with Kodak Royal Gold 400 color negative film.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)
AstroPhysics 130 EDF + Nikon N70: Kodak Royal Gold 400, f/12, 15 sec
Photo ©2000 by Fred Espenak

Eclipse Sequence
(T00sequence1)

This nine image sequence captures the entire lunar eclipse of 2000 Jan 20-21 from start to finish.
During totality (center image), the Moon was 10,000 fainter than it was before the eclipse began.The red color is due to the filtering effect of Earth's atmosphere.

Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 21 (Dunkirk, MD)
AstroPhysics 130 EDF + Nikon N70: Kodak Royal Gold 100, f/12
Photo ©2000 by Fred Espenak

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)
AstroPhysics 130 EDF + Nikon N70: Kodak Royal Gold 100, f/12
Photo ©2000 by Fred Espenak

Blood Red Totality
(TLE2000Jul-5152)

Locations in and around the Pacific Ocean were favored with a view of the total lunar eclipse of 2000 Jul 16.This was the longest total eclipse (1 hour 47 minutes) for the next thousand years!During the totality, the Moon plunged directly through the center of Earth's dark shadow.The result was a very dark blood-red Moon.

Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 July 16 (Lahaina, Maui)
Vixen 90mm fluorite refractor, f/18, 30 seconds on Fuji Superia 800
Photo ©2000 by Fred Espenak

Totality -
From Start to Finish
(TLE2000Jul16trio2)

The beginning, middle and end of totality were captured in this trio of images shot from Maui, Hawaii during the lunar eclipse of 2000 Jul 16.This was the longest total eclipse (1 hour 47 minutes) for the next thousand years!The individual eclipse images were then scanned into a Macintosh and the final composition was arranged using Adobe Photoshop.

Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 July 16 (Lahaina, Maui)
Vixen 90mm fluorite refractor, f/18, 4 to 15 seconds on Fuji Superia 800
Photo ©2000 by Fred Espenak

Eclipse Anatomy
(TLE2000Jul16comp2)

After photographing various phases of the total lubar eclipse of 2000 Jul 16, the negatives were scanned into a Macintosh and used Adobe Photoshop to arrange the final composition.This compelling image captures the entire celestial event in one sweeping sequence.

Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 July 16 (Lahaina, Maui)
Vixen 90mm fluorite refractor, f/18, 1/125 to 15 seconds on Fuji Superia 800
Photo ©2000 by Fred Espenak

Eclipse Over Maui
(TLE2000Julmux1)

The multiple exposure technique was used to make this photo during the total lunar eclipse of 2000 Jul 16 from Maui, Hawaii.A Nikon 8008 camera in multiple exposure mode captured every phase of the eclipse at five minute intervals. During totality, the Moon took on a deep red color.The basic exposure of 1/125 second at f/5.6 was increased to 1/8 second within 15 minutes of totality and then set to 4 seconds throughout totality.A second exposure (metered) captures morning twilight and silhouetted palm trees.

Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 July 16 (Lahaina, Maui)
Nikon 8008, Nikkor 35mm f/5.6
Kodak Royal Gold 100: 1/125 to 1/8 on (partial phases), 4 seconds (totality)
Photo ©2000 by Fred Espenak

Totality 2001
(TLE2001-14+15)

The total lunar eclipse of 2001 Jan 09 was visible from Europe, Africa and Asia. Mid-totality was captured with a 30 second long exposure when the Moon was completely immersed in the Earth's dark umbral shadow. The Moon is bathed in a deep red light which is actually sunlight refracted by Earth's atmosphere.

Total Lunar Eclipse of 2001 Jan 09 (Athens, GREECE)
Vixen 90mm fluorite refractor, f/18, 30 seconds on Fuji Superia 800
Photo ©2003 by Fred Espenak

Greek Totality Trio
(TLE2001-Trio1)

A composite image of three separate photos captures the Moon at the beginning, middle and end of totality during the total lunar eclipse of 2001 Jan 09. The deep red color is due to Earth's atmosphere which filters out the blue, green light while transmitting orange and red sunlight to the Moon.

Total Lunar Eclipse of 2001 Jan 09 (Athens, GREECE)
Vixen 90mm fluorite refractor, f/18, 15-30 seconds on Fuji Superia 800
Photo ©2003 by Fred Espenak

Eclipse Over Poseidon
(TLE2001Poseidon01)

The multiple exposure technique was used to make this photo during the total lunar eclipse of 2001 Jan 09 from Athens, GREECE.A Nikon 8008 camera in multiple exposure mode captured every phase of the eclipse at five minute intervals. During totality, the Moon took on a deep red color.The basic exposure of 1/125 second at f/5.6 was increased to 1/8 second within 15 minutes of totality and then set to 4 seconds throughout totality.A second exposure (metered) captures morning twilight and silhouetted the ancient temple of Poseidon.

Total Lunar Eclipse of 2001 Jan 09 (Athens, GREECE)
Nikon 8008, Nikkor 35mm f/5.6
Kodak Royal Gold 100: 1/125 to 1/8 on (partial phases), 4 seconds (totality)
Photo ©2003 by Fred Espenak

Penumbral Eclipse
(NLE2002-3)

Penumbral lunar eclipses are quite difficult to observe because the penumbral shadow is quite weak. But I saw the penumbral lunar eclipse of 2002 Nov 20 as a good opportunity to try out digital photography with a Nikon Coolpix 995. A pair of exposures shows the Moon before the eclipse and at mid eclipse when 88.9% of the Moon's diameter was immersed in the penumbral shadow.

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 2002 Nov 20 (Dunkirk, Maryland)
AstroPhysics 105EDT refractor, f/6
Nikon Coolpix 995 Digital Camera (3.2 Megapixels)
Photo ©2003 by Fred Espenak