A Very Non-technical Recollection of the September 27, 2015 Total Lunar Eclipse
By Ray Kaville
Location: Hamden CT near Bethany border
Date: 09-27-2015
Time: Approximately 7:30p.m. to midnight EDT
Temperature: Approximately 60 degrees F
Equipment:
15×70 Binocs on photo tripod with vice grips
6″ Celestron refractor
32mm Meade Super Plossl
24mm Televue Panoptic
Total Lunar Eclipse of the Moon in Perigee (Supermoon)
Several of the ASNH active members were heading out to Stratford to share the evening with droves of people and the Boothe Memorial Astronomical Society. I had to bail because my son wanted to bring his friend over to observe the eclipse through my telescope.
I don’t remember so much foliage, but I did take note of it as I tried to find a decent position to view the event. The only area that was totally clear overlooked the back yard of a neighbor. A divorced mother neighbor who would take exception to my using that position. So I decided to trespass on the student house next door since it’s vacant for now (looks like they’re trying to sell it after the recent broadcast news articles).
After scoping out the whole property, the end of their driveway against the woods was the best starting point. So there I set up the 30 year old lightweight tripod with a pair of vice-grips(TM) to hold the vertical and mounted my 15×70 Bear binocs.
There I sat for quite a while, on my neighbor’s driveway on a little stool by the woods listening to the wildlife. Both in the woods and down the driveway (more students). No sense wasting time, so while waiting for my son and his friend, I started checking out the Moon with great interest. You usually don’t get to spend time on it, and usually never as a full Moon. There were a ton of details that were washed out, but a ton that you never see all at once. We are very fortunate to have a heavenly body so close where we can see surface detail, even with weak little binocs.
Bundling up is always a good idea, and although it wasn’t really cold it paid off. More ogling than observing I watched intently poring over the detailed features and referring back to my Moon chart (since I couldn’t remember most beyond the largest and well known). Still no son, but my daughter showed up with her significant other and went inside none the wiser that I was out there in the dark. Looking down briefly and back at the bright orb, I was startled to see a definite dark intrusion marking the very beginning of the eclipse! It cause me to lock eyes on the Moon and confirm that I was seeing what I thought I was seeing. I swear it was 8:07 or so, but I could be mistaken.
As the dark area expanded you could distinctly see the dark red appearing along the left edge of the Moon with the binocs, but not naked eye. And it expanded. Wow did that terminator move fast! It was a short time before I relocated to my own front lawn, and then took a quick jaunt in to notify my daughter and her fiance (Liz & JC) about the event and its status. They were both thrilled and scrambled outside to get a view through the binocs. Both asked about the telescope. I wasn’t too enthusiastic about setting up. Lots of work and little likelihood it would yield much. Still, it was nice to have company so I lugged out the big tripod and my 6″ OTA for some more intense viewing. Now I gotta tell ya, I didn’t expect it would enhance much, but I was wrong. It was stunning!
Time passed as we switched from one tool to the other chatting about the sky and the event. Naked eye was actually good enough, but optically enhanced views were riveting. Liz, JC and I spotted three or four meteors burning north to south from the Aquarius area (Eta Aquarids judging from origin). We also noted a few satellites from time to time and (of course) some planes.
The Moon actually was *blood red* and beautiful up there! Couldn’t get over it. Around 10:30pm we started panning the sky. The Milky Way was visible (dimly) from end to end. With the Moon in totality, M31 was visible naked eye, with some averted vision, as were the double clusters. M31 and M110 looked nice in the eyepiece and I was glad to share views through my 24mm Panoptic. I hardly ever use that, but the views of the clusters were excellent. The Moon showed a blood red surface, and to my eyes blue/gray mare. Not to be redundant, but it really was breathtaking to see it this way. Liz and JC agreed. We were all jazzed at the views in Hamden.
JC had work Monday so they had to bug out around 11:30pm. Everyone was satisfied, but in hindsight I wish I had shown them the Owl (ET) Cluster and a couple of other objects in Cygnus. Oh well. Maybe next time.
Suffice it to say I was very excited and pleased to be out there using my big eye to view the heavens. It wasn’t long before I started getting antsy about our upcoming CSP 25 in Goshen!
Still no son. Ok, time to break down. Almost midnight and I’m tired and ready to drop. The precipitation had pretty much killed the views and there was a lot of brightness coming from both the neighbor up front’s spot light and the newly released moon. Physically I was ready to stop. Emotionally I didn’t want it to end. lol.
So I packed up and left the optics to dry, then headed upstairs. One last look off the deck around midnight to see how the moon was faring. Luna was in the last throes of eclipse and practically free of shadow so I was happy I could make it this far. What’s that? Oh! Pleiades and Aldebaran showing along with Auriga and Capella over to the left. Almost forgot they followed Perseus. I’ll catch them all at CSP!
There’s lots to do to get ready for CSP 25. Fingers crossed we have clear skies. Goshen is a wild and amazing spot for dark skies. I’m dying to get out there! You probably are too!!
Clear Skies!