SAC lunar eclipse trip to Barcelona

Hi All,
A number of us here in SAC are heading to Barcelona for the June 15th Lunar eclipse.
We're meeting up with the members of "Aster" (Barcelona Astronomical Association) on the hills near the Olympic stadium, they have a great observing site there.
Given the duration and nature of this particular eclipse, we all feel its worth going to, and the city is a great place to visit anyway.
If anyone wants to come along, theyre more then welcome. If youre making your own way there, I'm sure we can meet up at the site if it suits you.

Going further east would have been preferable for this eclipse but we're keeping costs down on this one.

Dave,
I was initially a little surprised to see that ye are travelling to see a lunar eclipse
However, when I looked into it a bit more, I can see now why.
This is the best total lunar eclipse until 2029.
With this eclipse, the Moon is almost exactly in the centre of earth's shadow making for a dark eclipse.
eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot2001/LE2011Jun15T.pdf
Biggest problem is that Ireland it not positioned well for it and it is mid-week.
I must see what options there are to fly east.
Should be good for our friends in Greece - Moon is about 14degrees up at mid totality if Stellarium is correct.

Michael.

Hi Michael,
We trashed this one out quiet abit but like you say, the idea initially of travelling for a lunar eclispe is abit unusual.
The eclipse as seen from Ireland is not good, the moon is coming out of totality at moon rise.
From spain, the moon is just finishing entering the umbra at moonrise, the moon is going very vertical so will be well above the horison as it passes through the centre of the umbra, and like you say, the entire point of this one is how deep into the shadow this one goes.
Our other concern was how visible would an eclipsed moon be in a blue sky, the eclipse on december 21st answered that one.

Our Greek friends will have a fab view of this eclipse, but its hard to beat a 100e return ryanair dublin/barcelona flight.
As for the weather, we'll see how it goes..

When Dave suggested this trip I initally thought
'travel that far just for that?! - nuts'
But then like you Mike, I did a little more thinking about it
and the combination of it being such a rare 'deep' eclipse
coupled with dirt cheap flights to Barcalona made me reconsider.
After getting the invite back from a contact I have there to
meet up with the members of Aster at the amazing location
it was a no brainer after that.
There are some super apartments available on
www.lovingbarcalona.com and we bagged a realy sweet place
Right next to Mount Montjuic.

Gwan!
Ye know ye want to!!!

Hi all,

Interesting idea. Looking at the times for Barcelona - the umbra phase (the good bit) will last between 21:22 and 23:02 local time with greatest eclipse at 22:12. Sunset is at 21:26 with moonrise at 21:20. You'll get to see the good bit under a darkening sky (unlike the December one where the sky was getting lighter closer to sunrise).

For Irish prospects (times are Belfast - but are similar for elsewhere in the country) - moon rise is not until 21:56 with the umbral phase ending at 22:02, so it will rise totally eclipsed and we'll get a nice partial view. Sunset is not until 22:02.

For both locations - if your observing site has both good western and eastern views - you'll see the sun set as an eclipsed moon rises.

Neill

michaeloconnell wrote: Dave,
I was initially a little surprised to see that ye are travelling to see a lunar eclipse
However, when I looked into it a bit more, I can see now why.
This is the best total lunar eclipse until 2029.

I made a comment to some friends recently about precisely the same observation, namely that the upcoming total lunar eclipse will be the last one for us until the late 2020's.

Although we will be privy to eclipses, they will not be available from start to end for nearly two decades for this part of the world.

How ironic that people may just have to travel to now observe a lunar eclipse?!

Anthony.