Lunar eclipse.

This may be a completely stupid question and if so please feel free to shut this thread down and/or even shoot me down for being a complete idiot.

The lunar eclipse on Feb 21st is due to kick off around about Midnight and go on til the small hours.

Does anyone know roughly the projected elevation (how high in the sky will it be) of the moon in the sky at the start of the eclipse?

Most Lunar eclipses i have seen have started a couple of hours earlier then this one and the moon is usually in a position that is great to observe with a scope.

Of late when i have observed the moon (naked eye) at about midnight-1am...........it is too high up in zenith *sky* (almost 90 degrees) .......thus making it impossible for me to observe it with a scope.


Not sure i want to use my scope to observe but would like to get a couple of images with it and my digicam.

For me the best/preferred method is naked eye because you take in a lot more in your eyes FOV then a scope or bins. But i always also use the bins.

Sooooooooooooo basically on the night....................how high up in the sky will the moon be at the start of the eclipse?.

I really hope this makes sense and doesnt sound as stupid as i think.

At the start (where the moon enters the Umbra) at 01:45am it will be approx. 44 degrees and 50 seconds.

Middle (total) at 03:27am it will be at approx 35 degrees and 25 seconds

End (moon lleaves the umbra) at 05:09 it will be at approx 21 degrees and 45 second.

Start of umbral eclipse (1st contact) at 21Feb08 - 01:42 - 44.5degrees altitude.
Totality (2nd contact) begins 02:59 - 37.9degrees altitude
Totality (3rd contact) ends 03:54 - 31.2degrees altitude
Moon exits umbra (4th contact) 05:11 - 20.5degrees altitude.

PJ - you should download a free planetarium program like Cartes du Ciel or Stellarium and have a play with them. You can solve lots of astronomical problems with them like eclipses, conjunctions and occultations etc. If you don't have a fast PC then stick to Cartes du Ciel. I found Stellarium to be very slow on my old 750MHz PC.

Phil.

At the start (where the moon enters the Umbra) at 01:45am it will be approx. 44 degrees and 50 seconds.

Middle (total) at 03:27am it will be at approx 35 degrees and 25 seconds

End (moon lleaves the umbra) at 05:09 it will be at approx 21 degrees and 45 second.

Thanks John.

So at the start it will be above the horizon at 44 degrees...........middle 35 degrees and end 21 degrees.?

So all in all comfortably LOW in the sky to observe in a scope without having to lay on the ground looking straight up 90 degree?



Phil i have Stellarium and Celestrons "The Sky" i just use them mainly for the "right here...........right now".

I didnt think to use either to give me a projected forcast for the moons position on the night.

So at the start it will be above the horizon at 44 degrees...........middle 35 degrees and end 21 degrees.?

So all in all comfortably LOW in the sky to observe in a scope without having to lay on the ground looking straight up 90 degree?



Phil i have Stellarium and Celestrons "The Sky" i just use them mainly for the "right here...........right now".

Correct!

PJ - you were asking about binocular mounts a while back and I never got time to reply. Take a look at these links - you should be able to get someone to make you one of these from 2" x 1" or similar "off the shelf" timber. They're pretty basic but would give you a very stable mounting that wouldn't get in the way of your wheelchair.

Phil.

Google "parallel binocular mount"
www.astro-tom.com/projects/binomount/binocular_mount.htm
www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=63,376,0,0,1,0

PJ - you were asking about binocular mounts a while back and I never got time to reply. Take a look at these links - you should be able to get someone to make you one of these from 2" x 1" or similar "off the shelf" timber. They're pretty basic but would give you a very stable mounting that wouldn't get in the way of your wheelchair.

Phil they look pretty SWEET. I would like a good solid bino mount that my chair can fit around.

Usually when observing with the scope i dont use the wheelchair. I sit on my ass on a cushion or a drum stool. I dont suffer back pain and am mobile enough to use either................I'm not CONFINED to a wheelchair.

When i use bins i am usually in the wheelchair just out for a casual observation with the bins and Skyscout.

The only astronomical aid i have constructed so far is a solar filter and i have not tried it out as yet. It aint the prettiest looking thing in the world..............and it took me more then 10 mins to construct....but if it works.

If anyone cares to construct a bino tripod (as outlined above) for me for minimal cost.............i would certainly pay for materials and labour.

The solar filter taught me that i am NOT gifted in the Arts and Craft area.

The fit on my 90mm is SNUG................(maybe a bit too snug) ........but that means it aint gonna fall off.