Comments on: Eclipse http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:43:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Amara http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31459 Amara Sun, 04 Mar 2007 21:13:31 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31459 Thanks for the warm words on my new painting style, Clifford. I always did like watercolor, but it could be that my painting style hasn't progressed very much beyond the school of basic "<a href="http://www.amara.com/zoo/zoo.html" rel="nofollow">splosh</a>". :-) Thanks for the warm words on my new painting style, Clifford. I always did like watercolor, but it could be that my painting style hasn’t progressed very much beyond the school of basic “splosh“. :-)

]]> By: candace http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31415 candace Sun, 04 Mar 2007 18:02:22 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31415 The refractor is an 80mm short tube jobby. I have a tiny little digicam that I held up to the eyepiece for a shot, but it didn't capture any of the red at that point (it wasn't in totality yet). http://www.flickr.com/photos/candace/409177809/ It's fun to see what you can do with limited capabilities! The refractor is an 80mm short tube jobby. I have a tiny little digicam that I held up to the eyepiece for a shot, but it didn’t capture any of the red at that point (it wasn’t in totality yet).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/candace/409177809/
It’s fun to see what you can do with limited capabilities!

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31407 Clifford Sun, 04 Mar 2007 16:48:10 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31407 Amara: - I actually like both photos, and don't think of them in competition at all. You had way fewer pixels to work with and so you did an impressionist-style painting instead.... with very warm colours indeed... Cheers, -cvj Amara: - I actually like both photos, and don’t think of them in competition at all. You had way fewer pixels to work with and so you did an impressionist-style painting instead…. with very warm colours indeed…

Cheers,

-cvj

]]> By: Amara http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31393 Amara Sun, 04 Mar 2007 16:11:41 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31393 A Canon Powershot SD 630, that fits inside of the palm of my hand, and with not even close to telephoto capabilities, versus a small refractor telescope (what size, Candace?) with a Canon EOS 350D picking up the image. There you have it folks. The little one with the CCD chip actually didn't do too badly, once I learned how to use the 'long shutter mode' and the exposure compensation and some of the other manual features appropriate for this task. Can you imagine if we were still in the Brownie camera days? A Canon Powershot SD 630, that fits inside of the palm of my hand, and with not even close to telephoto capabilities, versus a small refractor telescope (what size, Candace?) with a Canon EOS 350D picking up the image.

There you have it folks. The little one with the CCD chip actually didn’t do too badly, once I learned how to use the ‘long shutter mode’ and the exposure compensation and some of the other manual features appropriate for this task. Can you imagine if we were still in the Brownie camera days?

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31384 Clifford Sun, 04 Mar 2007 15:41:53 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31384 And Candace's <img width="300" src="http://asymptotia.com/wp-images/2007/03/candace_eclipse.jpg" alt="candace's image" /> -cvj And Candace’s

candace's image

-cvj

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31383 Clifford Sun, 04 Mar 2007 15:38:33 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31383 Here's that photo of Amara's. I love the blue. <img width="300" src="http://amara.com/luneclipse/IMG_5289_cropped.jpg" alt="Amara's photo" /> See her explanation above. -cvj Here’s that photo of Amara’s. I love the blue.

Amara's photo

See her explanation above.

-cvj

]]> By: candace http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31373 candace Sun, 04 Mar 2007 15:03:48 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31373 We had a lovely evening of it here in London -- we were blessed with a freak crystal clear night for the occasion. Paul and I hauled the refractor telescope out to the pavement and took a few snaps. Here's one taken at totality: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blech/409247999/ It was really quite lovely, we had random passersby stopping for a look through the 'scope on their way home from the pub. We had a lovely evening of it here in London — we were blessed with a freak crystal clear night for the occasion. Paul and I hauled the refractor telescope out to the pavement and took a few snaps. Here’s one taken at totality: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blech/409247999/

It was really quite lovely, we had random passersby stopping for a look through the ’scope on their way home from the pub.

]]> By: Amara http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31367 Amara Sun, 04 Mar 2007 14:29:06 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31367 Compare an image from the folks with the professional equipment (your German astronomy friends): http://www.vds-astro.de/astroaktuell/2007/Mondfinsternis/image/IMG_3047B.jpg with an image from my handy digital that is not designed for such photography http://amara.com/luneclipse/IMG_5289_cropped.jpg Ok, you laugh, but at least the lunar maria is correct, true? "… maybe there is just some Moon-looking gene that some of us have, and most don’t…" However, I'm sure that our ancestors were skilled at looking at the Moon! There was a glorious spectacle last night of the eclipsed Moon occurring over the heads of all of these people, and no one in the apartments around or walking on the streets below me noticed. How difficult can it be to look at the Moon? Compare an image from the folks with the professional equipment (your German astronomy friends): http://www.vds-astro.de/astroaktuell/2007/Mondfinsternis/image/IMG_3047B.jpg

with an image from my handy digital that is not designed for such photography
http://amara.com/luneclipse/IMG_5289_cropped.jpg

Ok, you laugh, but at least the lunar maria is correct, true?

“… maybe there is just some Moon-looking gene that some of us have, and most don’t…”

However, I’m sure that our ancestors were skilled at looking at the Moon! There was a glorious spectacle last night of the eclipsed Moon occurring over the heads of all of these people, and no one in the apartments around or walking on the streets below me noticed. How difficult can it be to look at the Moon?

]]> By: stefan http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31310 stefan Sun, 04 Mar 2007 11:39:15 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31310 Ha, I was lucky: the clouds went away around 22:00 UT, and I could follow nearly the whole eclipse :-). Yes, this kind of diamond ring effect at the end of the total ecplipse was quite impressive! Dear Amara, <i> I saw no one looking up at the Moon.</i> ... maybe there is just some Moon-looking gene that some of us have, and most don't... ;-) Prove in point: Sabine's mum sent me a mail that she had a perfect view of the ecplise, and I had a kind of phone conference with my mother while she was also watching... Ha, I was lucky: the clouds went away around 22:00 UT, and I could follow nearly the whole eclipse :-). Yes, this kind of diamond ring effect at the end of the total ecplipse was quite impressive!

Dear Amara,

I saw no one looking up at the Moon.

… maybe there is just some Moon-looking gene that some of us have, and most don’t… ;-) Prove in point: Sabine’s mum sent me a mail that she had a perfect view of the ecplise, and I had a kind of phone conference with my mother while she was also watching…

]]> By: Amara http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31283 Amara Sun, 04 Mar 2007 09:23:08 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31283 This particular eclipase gave me the opportunity to learn the manual mode of the camera and how to turn _off_ all of the other automatic functions like the flash. It was a nice experience to learn what most of those other settings actually do. I call it a 'toy camera' because it doesn't cover the range of my good Contax, however, it's far more versatile than my Contax, so I should resist the temptation to call it a 'toy'. While I was still in the bathroom (heh!), taking shots of the Moon, it must have looked funny for people on the outside of my building, with the occasional flash appearing through the open window. But no one who I saw below my apartment building, said anything. Moreover, I saw _no one_ looking up at the Moon all evening. Not a single person. This is my fourth lunar eclipse watching from my flat (where I have an excellent view of the Moon). After a while, I moved my viewing to the terrace, when the Moon rose higher, and the same. I have a view of the apartments of say, 100 people all around me, and in the 3-4 hours of the event I saw not a single person who looked at the Moon. Four lunar eclipses, say 16 hours of my viewing the Moon, and I saw no one looking up at the Moon. It's times like this that I feel that I am a total misfit in this culture. This particular eclipase gave me the opportunity to learn the manual mode of the camera and how to turn _off_ all of the other automatic functions like the flash. It was a nice experience to learn what most of those other settings actually do. I call it a ‘toy camera’ because it doesn’t cover the range of my good Contax, however, it’s far more versatile than my Contax, so I should resist the temptation to call it a ‘toy’.

While I was still in the bathroom (heh!), taking shots of the Moon, it must have looked funny for people on the outside of my building, with the occasional flash appearing through the open window. But no one who I saw below my apartment building, said anything. Moreover, I saw _no one_ looking up at the Moon all evening. Not a single person. This is my fourth lunar eclipse watching from my flat (where I have an excellent view of the Moon). After a while, I moved my viewing to the terrace, when the Moon rose higher, and the same. I have a view of the apartments of say, 100 people all around me, and in the 3-4 hours of the event I saw not a single person who looked at the Moon. Four lunar eclipses, say 16 hours of my viewing the Moon, and I saw no one looking up at the Moon. It’s times like this that I feel that I am a total misfit in this culture.

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31201 Clifford Sun, 04 Mar 2007 02:09:21 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31201 Ah... the moon rose a short while ago.... a yellow-orange colour. -cvj Ah… the moon rose a short while ago…. a yellow-orange colour.

-cvj

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31180 Clifford Sun, 04 Mar 2007 00:11:25 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31180 I love these descriptions from all of you, by the way.... thanks everyone! "twinkling like a reflected diamond ring" That's lovely. -cvj I love these descriptions from all of you, by the way…. thanks everyone!

“twinkling like a reflected diamond ring”

That’s lovely.

-cvj

]]> By: astromcnaught http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31175 astromcnaught Sun, 04 Mar 2007 00:07:24 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31175 Ahhh, it's ending now. We can see the bright light of Sol edge into the limb... Pause a breath and it's moved a little further, twinkling like a reflected diamond ring. Ahhh, it’s ending now.
We can see the bright light of Sol edge into the limb… Pause a breath and it’s moved a little further, twinkling like a reflected diamond ring.

]]> By: Amara http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31171 Amara Sat, 03 Mar 2007 23:53:25 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31171 There's a hint of white on the left edge, that looks like the Moon is coming out of eclipse. Clifford, look at the <a href="http://www.vds-astro.de/astroaktuell/2007/Mondfinsternis/live/Mondfinsternis-live.htm" rel="nofollow">German astronomers</a>' web site. They have a couple of gorgeous pictures. I just sent to you my 'best' from my toy camera. I learned how to use it for more than simple snapshots this evening, but it is not really designed for this kind of photography. :-) And if the <a href="http://www.swisseduc.ch/stromboli/" rel="nofollow">stromboli online</a> people are not taking photographs now with the lunar eclipse hanging over Stromboli's new lava vents and rivers, then they are really dumb. There’s a hint of white on the left edge, that looks like the Moon is coming out of eclipse.

Clifford, look at the German astronomers‘ web site. They have a couple of gorgeous pictures.

I just sent to you my ‘best’ from my toy camera. I learned how to use it for more than simple snapshots this evening, but it is not really designed for this kind of photography. :-)

And if the stromboli online people are not taking photographs now with the lunar eclipse hanging over Stromboli’s new lava vents and rivers, then they are really dumb.

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31167 Clifford Sat, 03 Mar 2007 23:12:10 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31167 I think they are rare. Seen only, er, once in a blue moon. (sorry, couldn't resist.) -cvj I think they are rare. Seen only, er, once in a blue moon.

(sorry, couldn’t resist.)

-cvj

]]> By: astromcnaught http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31166 astromcnaught Sat, 03 Mar 2007 23:09:50 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31166 We're watching it right now. It's beautiful. The top part is pale blue and the bottom copper, like a worn penny. The sky is full of stars, silent, without a breath of wind. The blue is interesting, perhaps a contrast effect? Can't say I've ever noticed a blue moon before. We’re watching it right now.
It’s beautiful.
The top part is pale blue and the bottom copper, like a worn penny.
The sky is full of stars, silent, without a breath of wind.

The blue is interesting, perhaps a contrast effect? Can’t say I’ve ever noticed a blue moon before.

]]> By: Blake Stacey http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31165 Blake Stacey Sat, 03 Mar 2007 23:09:26 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31165 Cloudy in Boston. All I can see is the great nebula M0. Cloudy in Boston. All I can see is the great nebula M0.

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31164 Clifford Sat, 03 Mar 2007 23:04:09 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31164 Yes, I recall thinking of the resemblance to Mars the last time I saw the moon at totality. The red-brown tinge gives it such a different character. -cvj Yes, I recall thinking of the resemblance to Mars the last time I saw the moon at totality. The red-brown tinge gives it such a different character.

-cvj

]]> By: Amara http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31157 Amara Sat, 03 Mar 2007 22:39:38 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31157 What lovely colors! It kind of looks like Mars.. There is a white strip (one minute from totality) with a bluish-greenish portion in the middle, and the bottom half is deep brown and red. What lovely colors! It kind of looks like Mars.. There is a white strip (one minute from totality) with a bluish-greenish portion in the middle, and the bottom half is deep brown and red.

]]> By: Amara http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31155 Amara Sat, 03 Mar 2007 22:25:24 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31155 Only a quarter of the Moon is 'visible' now. Only a quarter of the Moon is ‘visible’ now.

]]> By: Amara http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31149 Amara Sat, 03 Mar 2007 22:16:55 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31149 I'm sending you one. It's not very good because 1) I don't have a tripod for the toy camera, and 2) the contrast is too high. I am balancing the camera on the window ledge against my box of Chinese health balls, so i hope the shot is in focus. However, you can't see any features on the Moon because of the contrast. It should be more photographical once it is in totality. I’m sending you one. It’s not very good because 1) I don’t have a tripod for the toy camera, and 2) the contrast is too high. I am balancing the camera on the window ledge against my box of Chinese health balls, so i hope the shot is in focus. However, you can’t see any features on the Moon because of the contrast. It should be more photographical once it is in totality.

]]> By: Amara http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31142 Amara Sat, 03 Mar 2007 22:00:41 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31142 Now instead of seeing only black and white and gray, I'm seeing some nice brown tints. Hello Earth atmosphere! Now instead of seeing only black and white and gray, I’m seeing some nice brown tints. Hello Earth atmosphere!

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31141 Clifford Sat, 03 Mar 2007 21:57:23 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31141 If you email me one or two, I can pop them up for people to see.... I'll be here for a bit longer, tinkering in the garden. -cvj If you email me one or two, I can pop them up for people to see…. I’ll be here for a bit longer, tinkering in the garden.

-cvj

]]> By: Amara http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31140 Amara Sat, 03 Mar 2007 21:54:55 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31140 Ok, it is about half-way obscurred now, with the bottom portion of the Moon almost black. This is going to be good! Ok, it is about half-way obscurred now, with the bottom portion of the Moon almost black. This is going to be good!

]]> By: Amara http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31137 Amara Sat, 03 Mar 2007 21:43:57 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2007/03/02/eclipse/#comment-31137 Oooooooooooooh. I'm convinced. For the last 15 minutes while I was fiddling with my toy digital camera, shooting strange pictures, I thought that there was a permanent cloud obscurring the bottom part of the Moon. No, it's going into a beautiful deep shadow now. It looks gorgeous in my binoculars. The bottom quarter of the Moon is almost black. Oooooooooooooh. I’m convinced. For the last 15 minutes while I was fiddling with my toy digital camera, shooting strange pictures, I thought that there was a permanent cloud obscurring the bottom part of the Moon. No, it’s going into a beautiful deep shadow now. It looks gorgeous in my binoculars. The bottom quarter of the Moon is almost black.

]]>