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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Total Lunar Eclipse

14/15th of April 2014

Original Graphic: Sky and Telescope

It's been awhile since our last Total Lunar eclipse...and Chicago Astronomers fans will get the chance to view a great one this April of 2014.

If our skies are clear, we will get to witness the Moon slip into the earth's shadow for 78 minutes...in where the lunar orb will slowly change from a silvery white to a nice copper brown.  It isn't always accurate to determine what final color the Moon will turn at maximum, as many factors are involved such as: Volcanic activity, pollution, haze etc.  One geographical region may observe a light shade...while another will observe a deep red.   But this one is just slightly below center of the full Umbra of Earth's shadow and could deliver a nice deep copper one for us.

The above graphic is converted to Chicago time and the fun starts at about 1:00 am...when it just starts to become noticeable that something is going to happen to the Moon - as the lunar orb starts to get darker on one side.  Maximum coverage event will be at 2:45 am - when the whole sphere of the Moon will be immersed in shades of red and brown.  The same thing happens again...but in reverse - and it's all over at really at 4:33 am.   For some, (being a work/school day... Monday night into Tuesday morning), if you have seen the beginning and mid events, then you can go home then.  But die hard lunar fanatics enjoy witnessing as much of these events as they/we can...till the very end when the Moon either totally slips out from the Earth;'s shadow...or the Moon sinks below the horizon -(which will happen here).

Here are some images of the last decent lunar eclipse we had in 2007...

Details here on that eclipse:
astronomer.proboards.com/board/58/photobucket-josephguzman-adlerchicago-observation-sessions

It is still early at this posting, (Feb 2014), to determine solid details on our Chicago Astronomer Eclipse Party, but we will either hook up with the Adler Planetarium for a joint session, contract with the Chicago Park District....or conduct one ourselves.  Either Way, lovers of the dark sky will get to share this phenomenon with fellow Astronomers and our scopes. 

Stay tuned for details....

[Centaur]

Thanks for the reminder, Joe. Interestingly, the eclipse will be the first of an unusual tetrad, i.e. four lunar eclipses that achieve totality with separations of only six lunar months. All four will be visible from Chicagoland, although for the third one we will only see the initial partial phase. The four dates based on Central Time at mid-eclipse and utilizing the astronomical date format are 2014 APR 15, 2014 OCT 08, 2015 APR 04 & 2015 SEP 27. Let’s hope the weather gods behave. 

On my Moon webpage is my panorama and timings of nine phases of the eclipse in horizontal (alt-az) coordinates as viewed from the Adler Planetarium: www.CurtRenz.com/moon

[Paulie pchris00]

I'm in on any observation. I've already requested the 15th off, so I can stay up for the entire eclipse, then go to bed. I was already thinking about the October total lunar eclipse and partial solar eclipse as well, but haven't requested those days off just yet.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

ECLIPSE UPDATE:

Don't know kids....

Weather forecasts are calling for possible snow showers during our eclipse observational window Tuesday morning.  If it's partly cloudy, we can work with that, but if it's a solid cloud cover, no one is gonna see anything - scopes or not.

The Adler Planetarium will still be open for our visitors for shows and related activities, but the weather will determine if scopes will be set-up.  But, clear or not...it will be cold.

I really won't know if I'll set-up the C11 Beast by 11:00 pm or not till late Monday evening, monitoring the weather closely and often.  I'll post the go/no-go here and on the Chicago Astronomer social media feeds.  If there is any possibility that we may catch some clear patches of sky, then I say let's all meet up and have a good time.  If not, then we will have to wait till the fall for our next lunar eclipse.

Stay tuned....

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

UPDATE

As of 7:15 pm...we are socked in with clouds and it's snowing..a lot.

But, the weather map shows this system is on the move and I do see some clearing to the west...

The system is slewing to the northeast and we could manage some clearing.

I will post in two hours....and hope for the best.

Stay tuned....

[humzai]

What's the parking situation like at the Adler Planetarium? I'd like to come down tonight but I dunno if I should just walk down or what. What are the details about the viewing?

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Parking gets pretty filled up quick along the drive.

If you can walk, I would recommend it and Viewing is contingent on weather conditions. The full details are listed above.

Some advanced answers to questions we often get:

- No, telescopes cannot see through clouds

- No, I do not know when the skies will clear. Your radar maps are as good as mine.

- This is only a one night event.


But we always enjoy chatting with our fans during Chicago Astronomer/Adler Planetarium events.

[humzai]

Ahahahha thanks for the faq you answered all my questions. Whooda thunk it. I found the page on the adler planetarium site regarding the event right after I posted the question. I am not sure if you are serious about being queried about those topics but it's funny either way.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

UPDATE:


Weather guru Skilling says that he fears that the clouds will move away after...the eclipse.

Damn...and it's still snowing at this posting 9:45 pm, even more by the Adler area as a remote segment on WGN shows brisk wind blown snow.

Not good...and I'm not even sure if it's gonna be at all suitable for anything.


Humzai...

Oh quite serious on these questions and more.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I am seriously cancelling my participation in this eclipse, due to the fact the lake effect weather is not condusive for scopes. I know some of my fellow Adler telescope Facilitators are heading up to meet and greet Adler visitors...

I'll make a final decision in an hour....but it doesn't look good.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Radar maps show the edge of the snow system finally moving out, but I don't know if that means clear skies.

I'll wait a 1/2 hour and see...

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Ok...

I can view the lunar orb from my home, thru the thinning clouds.

I'm heading off to the Adler and set-up the scope.

See you brave souls soon
'

[patrickm]

Moon and Spica from Austin, Tx.

(iPhone through 15x70 binocs)

Attachments:

[humzai]

How was the viewing party? I wanted to come but decided on just staying in and viewing from my apt. I had a decent view but missed almost of the total eclipse. I might have gotten a view at the tail end and got to see all of the partial eclipse.

[Paulie pchris00]

I was watching weather sites all day yesterday, and keeping in contact with my friend Ryan, a meteorology student at Valpo University. I wasn't very hopeful until about 11:30, when a look out the back window show a few clouds to the south, glowing with strong Moonlight. I couldn't actually see the Moon from that vantage point, but I knew it was out. All satellite imaging I had seen was showing the first snow system was moving out, leaving behind clear skies. I got my hopes up, and got ready to go outside.

Just before I went outside, Ryan told me not to look at the radar. A Lake effect band of snow had just developed, and when I went outside, sure enough, it was snowing. It was snowing every time I checked from 11:45 PM until 2:30 AM. Watching the system develop on radar images gave me no reason to think the snow would stop before the end of the eclipse, so I watched a couple of sites streaming the eclipse online, and went to bed about 3:00.

Valpo got hit hard with Lake effect snow for the February, 2008 total lunar eclipse, the first eclipse since I had taken up astronomy as a hobby. The region was again hit with snow for the winter solstice eclipse of 2010. It was clear down at Conway Observatory for the December 2011 total lunar eclipse, but only the first few minutes of the partial phase were visible before the Moon set. Having been snowed out for winter eclipses, I was really looking forward to last night's eclipse. I thought there was no way I would be snowed out yet again, not in mid-April, not even after enduring this hellacious winter. But once again, a total lunar eclipse with the Moon over Northwest Indiana for the duration, and all I saw were snowflakes.

This picture says all you need to know about my eclipse experience.

[humzai]

I am sorry to hear that.

I was getting ready to go to Adler but since the weather wasn't letting up I decided to head to bed. However I stayed up late anyways and when joe posted he was heading to Adler I finally got a glimpse of the moon. Cloud cover impeded view until 3:19 or so and then it was pretty clear until the end of the partial eclipse.

I am wondering how conditions where at Adler compared to my vantage point. I'm adjacet to Mccormick Center.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

A Total Lunar Eclipse Snow Out....(At least in Chicago)

"What the hell am I doing here?"

I monitored the region's weather conditions up until the last possible moment of my decision to stay warm and dry, or head out to the Adler area and join fellow Astronomers who were there attending to museum visitors.  I pretty much gave up on any eclipse activity by 11:00 pm, as it was still snowing here at Chicago Astronomer command.  Checking radar maps, there was a line break in the cloud mass, but my recon was not good...that is until Chicago Astronomer Jason posted that he could actually see the lunar orb from his place.

I would regret it if I did not make the effort to observe this event in the event that the skies would clear...so grudgingly I loaded the necessary gear, (Scopes, cameras etc...), and headed out to the Adler at 11:45pm.  The sight when I drove up wasn't encouraging.

When I arrived, the lake effect snow was heavy, Squall line heavy with sleet...and the winds were gusting.   But hey, I'm here and I would set-up the mount....you know....in case the clouds should part and the show would go on.  I'm optimistic that way....



And...the Moon was indeed peeking through breaks in the clouds....I was hopeful.

Not to be.



Although, I was starting to observe the very beginnings of the Earth's shadow on the lunar face, the skies soon closed up and the heavy snows starting again, coving my equipment with snow and sleet...



Adler visitors were coming out of the building evry once in awhile, searching for the Moon and coming over to my site, partially shielded from the winds coming down from the north.  Some asked where they should look into, standing next to the scopeless mount and covering their faces from the stinging sleet.  I explained that due to the inclement weather, that no views would be presently available and that it looks like none would be for this event.  Some asked if this was the feed for the live lunar display inside.   Again, no.



Chicago Astronomer participant Rob, straight from his pilot duties in Dubai, stopped by to join me and my madness... sharing some laughs and getting covered in Chicago Eclipse snow.

 Lasers cut through anything...



The snow was falling more briskly and it was sticky, covering the gear and layering the bags.

Enough.

Gotta know when to fold them and all this can;t be good for the gear.

I packed away the equipment and we both ventured inside to warm up and say our goodbyes to the Adler crew for tonight...



Adler crew for the Lunar Eclipse event:  John, Rob, Tom, Larry, Jose, Linda and myself.

All of Chicago was snowed out for the event, (especially near the lake front), but the surrounding suburbs and regions got great views of the copper Moon.  We are just gonna have to wait till October for our next opportunity to catch a Total Lunar Eclipse.

[patrickm]

Joe, you win something. I'm not sure what it is, and it will probably include an adjustment to your medication, but you definitely win something.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

No risk...no gains.

Hardcore Urban Astronomy....while you wait.

Winning.

[mojocvh]

Wow!!

Saying that we still have corries in the mountains that are snow filled. Our highest site is at 522m and it's still pretty baltic just now when the wind catches you.....

[Vinod Kumar]

Thanks dear for sharing such an informative information.