2004 Total Eclipse
2004 Lunar Eclipse Sequence
The total lunar eclipse of 2004 Oct 28 was widely visible from the USA.
This sequence of images captures the eclipse from start (right) to finish (left).
The composite was assembled from three separate exposures using Adobe Photoshop.
AstroPhysics 105 EDT Refractor (4" F/6) and AP 2X Barlow (fl=1200mm).
(click to see larger image)

Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 27-28

Photo Gallery Part B

©2004 by Fred Espenak. All rights reserved.

On the evening of 2004 October 27-28, a total eclipse of the Moon was visible from North and South America as well as Europe and Africa.From start to finish, the eclipse lasted over three and a half hours. The partial phase began as the Moon's eastern limb contacted the edge of Earth's dark umbral shadow.It took nearly 70 minutes for the Moon to move entirely within the umbra. The Moon took on a vivid reddish orange hue during the 81 minute long total phase. The unusual color was due to the feeble sunlight reaching the Moon which was filtered and bent by Earth's atmosphere.After totality ended, the partial phases repeated themselves in reverse order as the Moon slowly emerged from the shadow.

This eclipse 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 the event, see the NASA web site Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 27-28 . To learn more about how and why lunar eclipses occur, visit Lunar Eclipses For Beginners. For information on upcoming eclipses of the Moon, see Lunar Eclipse Preview: 2001-2020.

I was fortunate to see and photograph this stunning event from my home in Dunkirk, Maryland. In spite of a gloomy weather forecast, we enjoyed clear sky for most of the evening. For complete details, see my 2004 lunar eclipse report.The gallery below offers a selection of photos taken of this colorful event.

For more photos, please visit: Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 28: Photo Gallery Part A.

Click on each image to see a larger photo.

Totality Begins! (TLE2004-097w)	Totality Begins! (TLE2004-097w)02:24 UT At 02:23:28 UT, the total phase of the eclipse begins. The crimson orb is a stunning sight hanging high in the stars of southern Aries. Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 28 (Dunkirk, MD) AstroPhysics 105mm Refractor + Nikon D100: ISO 400, f/12, 4 sec; 02:24 UT Photo ©2004 by Fred Espenak
Early Totality (TLE2004-116w)	Early Totality (TLE2004-116w)02:39 UT The portion of the Moon deepest in the umbra is clearly much darker than the section nearest the shadow's edge. This is to be expected, but it is fascinating to study the difference and range in colors across the Moon's disk. Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 28 (Dunkirk, MD) AstroPhysics 105mm Refractor + Nikon D100: ISO 400, f/12, 15 sec; 02:39 UT Photo ©2004 by Fred Espenak
Middle Totality (TLE2004-139w)	Middle Totality (TLE2004-139w)03:03 UT At mid-eclipse (03:04:06 UT), the Moon's southern limb is just 0.7 arc-minutes from the center of the umbra while the northern limb is 9.5 arc-minutes from the shadow's edge. Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 28 (Dunkirk, MD) AstroPhysics 105mm Refractor + Nikon D100: ISO 400, f/12, 15 sec; 03:03 UT Photo ©2004 by Fred Espenak
Late Totality (TLE2004-160w)	Late Totality (TLE2004-160w)03:42 UT Three minutes before totality ends, the northeastern limb is growing very bright. Thin clouds have moved in but the Moon is easily visible through most of them. Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 28 (Dunkirk, MD) AstroPhysics 105mm Refractor + Nikon D100: ISO 400, f/12, 15 sec; 03:42 UT Photo ©2004 by Fred Espenak
Totality Ends (TLE2004-164w)	Totality Ends (TLE2004-164w)03:45 UT As the total phase comes to a end, the emerging crescent quickly grows bright. Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 28 (Dunkirk, MD) AstroPhysics 105mm Refractor + Nikon D100: ISO 400, f/12, 15 sec; 03:45 UT Photo ©2004 by Fred Espenak
Hazy Crescent (TLE2004-175w)	Hazy Crescent (TLE2004-175w)03:55 UT Ten minutes after totality, the umbrally eclipse region of the Mooon is still visible through hazy clouds. Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 28 (Dunkirk, MD) AstroPhysics 105mm Refractor + Nikon D100: ISO 400, f/12, 30 sec; 03:55 UT Photo ©2004 by Fred Espenak
Emerging Crescent (TLE2004-178w)	Emerging Crescent (TLE2004-178w)03:59 UT With thicker clouds moving in, the emerging crescent Moon is captured during a break in the clouds. Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 28 (Dunkirk, MD) AstroPhysics 105mm Refractor + Nikon D100: ISO 400, f/12, 1/4; 03:59 UT Photo ©2004 by Fred Espenak
Returning Moon (TLE2004-190w)	Returning Moon (TLE2004-190w)04:09 UT By 04:09 UT, one third of the Moon has exited Earth's shadow and the ambient light is once again growing bright. Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 28 (Dunkirk, MD) AstroPhysics 105mm Refractor + Nikon D100: ISO 400, f/12, 1/15; 04:09 UT Photo ©2004 by Fred Espenak
Eclipse Thru Thin Clouds (TLE2004-193w)	Eclipse Thru Thin Clouds (TLE2004-193w)04:11 UT In spite of increasing clouds, the umbrally eclipsed portion of the Moon is still visible. Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 28 (Dunkirk, MD) AstroPhysics 105mm Refractor + Nikon D100: ISO 400, f/12, 4 sec; 04:11 UT Photo ©2004 by Fred Espenak
2004 Eclipse Sequence 3 (TLE2004seq3w)	2004 Eclipse Sequence 3 (TLE2004seq3w) This 9-image sequence captures the entire eclipse. It was assembled from individual photos using Adobe Photoshop. The Moon's motion through the umbra is from lower right to upper left. Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 28 (Dunkirk, MD) AstroPhysics 105mm Refractor + Nikon D100: ISO 400, f/12 Photo ©2004 by Fred Espenak
2004 Eclipse Sequence 4 (TLE2004seq4w)	2004 Eclipse Sequence 4 (TLE2004seq4w) A 9-image sequence captures the entire eclipse. It was assembled from individual photos using Adobe Photoshop. This image is identical to TLE2004seq3w except that it has been rotated to remove the tilt in the Moon's orbit.In this orientation, the Moon's motion through the umbral shadow is from right to left. Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 28 (Dunkirk, MD) AstroPhysics 105mm Refractor + Nikon D100: ISO 400, f/12 Photo ©2004 by Fred Espenak
Triple-Play (TLE2004-Triple1w)	Triple-Play (TLE2004-Triple1w) In honor of the Boston Red Sox World Series win on the same night, a "triple-play" of three images captures the start (right), middle (center) and end (left) of the Moon in total eclipse. Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 28 (Dunkirk, MD) AstroPhysics 105mm Refractor + Nikon D100: ISO 400, f/12, 15 sec Photo ©2004 by Fred Espenak
2004 Eclipse Sequence 5 (TLE2004seq5w)	2004 Eclipse Sequence 5 (TLE2004seq5w) This 11-image sequence captures the whole eclipse from start to finish. It was assembled from individual photos using Adobe Photoshop. The entire sequence has been rotated to remove the tilt in the Moon's orbit.In this orientation, the Moon's motion through the umbral shadow is from right to left. Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 28 (Dunkirk, MD) AstroPhysics 105mm Refractor + Nikon D100: ISO 400, f/12 Photo ©2004 by Fred Espenak
2004 Eclipse Matrix 2 (TLE2004matrix2w)	2004 Eclipse Matrix 2 (TLE2004matrix2w) This Photoshop composition captures six partial phases of the eclipse both before and after totality along with the start (right), middle (center) and end (left) of the total phase. Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 28 (Dunkirk, MD) AstroPhysics 105mm Refractor + Nikon D100: ISO 400, f/12 Photo ©2004 by Fred Espenak
2004 Eclipse Sequence 6 (TLE2004seq6w)	2004 Eclipse Sequence 6 (TLE2004seq6w) This 13-image sequence captures the whole eclipse from start to finish. It was assembled from individual photos using Adobe Photoshop. The entire sequence has been rotated to remove the tilt in the Moon's orbit.In this orientation, the Moon's motion through the umbral shadow is from right to left. Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 28 (Dunkirk, MD) AstroPhysics 105mm Refractor + Nikon D100: ISO 400, f/12 Photo ©2004 by Fred Espenak