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[Centaur]

During the early morning hours (US time zones) of 2005 APR 24 a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse will occur. The penumbra is the gray outer portion of the Earth's shadow. Anyone standing on the Moon within the penumbra would see the Sun partially occulted by the Earth.

During this month's event the Full Moon will come fairly close to the umbra, the dark portion of the shadow in which the Sun would appear totally occulted by the Earth. At mid-eclipse, observers should notice a moderate darkening toward one edge of the Moon. Your photos would be welcome additions to this thread.

I have created a graphic previewing three stages of the eclipse. It is customized for Chicago (especially the Moon's altitudes) but should well serve all observers experiencing nighttime. To see it, click:

www.curtrenz.com/astronomical.html

Then click the small blue button for "Penumbral Lunar Eclipse".

The graphic may be removed soon after April 24.

[Centaur]

An observer in Hawaii took photos of the event and posted them at Cloudy Nights. Click:
www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=417443&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=all&fpart=&vc=1&PHPSESSID=

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Good to see the images of the event.

What time will the next eclipse in October be?

[Centaur]

Partial Lunar Eclipse -- Mag +0.061

2005 OCT 17 (CDT)

04:53 Enters Penumbra
06:36 Enters Umbra
07:03 Maximum Eclipse
07:31 Exits Umbra
09:13 Exits Penumbra

For the latter two events, the Moon will have moved beneath the Horizon as viewed from Chicagoland. It will be virtually on the horizon at maximum eclipse.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

You know...

This would make a nice City skyline shot along with the eclisped moon, even if it's a partial.

Something to plan for...

[Centaur]

Indeed, Joe, it could be a pretty shot if taken from out in the lake shortly before dawn. At the Adler Planetarium sunrise will occur at 07:05 and moonset at 07:11. From that location at 07:03 when the partial eclipse is maximum (6.1%), the Moon's center will appear at azimuth 282.5 degrees (12.5 degrees north of due west) and altitude +0.9 degrees.

[timothy]

Well It might turn out to be a good photo opp. Maybe some nice sunset clouds frameing the event. I can wait for this onr though since winter is just around the corner then. But then again so are the winter constellations, which we'll all be looking forward to

[Centaur]

timothy said:

...nice sunset clouds frameing the event.

Actually, the event will occur near sunrise. As always, the Sun and eclipsed Moon will appear opposite each other in the sky. So any clouds in the vicinity of the rising Sun in the east won't be surrounding the setting Moon in the west. Nevertheless, there could be some interesting visual effects.