Image credit: Wikipedia
Moon passing through Earth's shadow at full moon
As seen from half the world, the full moon passed right through the Earth’s dark umbral shadow earlier today (December 10, 2011). The resulting total eclipse of the moon lasted 51 minutes, to the delight of many in western North America, the Pacific and Asia. Before and after totality, the moon was partially eclipsed for about one hour and 20 minutes, so the whole lunar eclipse from start to finish lasted about three and one-half hours.
Places that saw the entire lunar eclipse included Asia, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. (See world map below.) From these places, the eclipse took place sometime after sunset on Saturday, December 10 and before sunrise on Sunday, December 11. (Hawaii and northwestern North America also got to see the entire eclipse, before sunrise on Saturday, December 10.)
December 10, 2011 total eclipse of the moon, shortly before total eclipse begins, as seen from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Image Credit: Colin Chatfield
Total eclipse of the moon December 10, 2011 GALLERY
The next meteor shower is December 13 and 14, 2011
The eclipse was also visible, at least in part, from northeastern Africa, and northern and eastern Europe. From this part of the world, the moon was already in eclipse as it rose over the east-northeast horizon at sunset.
There are many wonderful photos of today’s eclipse on EarthSky Facebook page. Check it out!
Find out what time the eclipse took place in your area with this handy lunar eclipse computer, courtesy of the U.S. Naval Observatory.
The world map below shows you the day and night sides of the world at the moment of the greatest eclipse (14:32 UT on December 10, 2011). Read the next several paragraphs carefully and you should have a good feel for when the eclipse took place as seen from your part of the globe.
Day and night side of Earth at instant of greatest eclipse (2011 December 10 at 14:32 Universal Time)
World Map courtesy of Earth and Moon Viewer
The shadow line running though North America shows you where it was sunrise on December 10 when the greatest eclipse was taking place. The shadow line passing to the east (right) of Africa shows you where it was sunset on December 10. For eastern Australia and far eastern Asia, it was midnight, and for New Zealand, it was after midnight (both on December 11). Once again, the map depicts the day and night sides of Earth at the instant of the greatest eclipse.
Another world map below shows you the day and night sides of the Earth at the instant that the moon passed out of the Earth’s dark umbral shadow (2011 December 10 at 16:18 UT). Every place to the west (left) of the sunset line (western and southern Africa, western Europe) could not the eclipse at all.
Day and night sides of Earth at tail end of eclipse (2011 December 10 at 16:18 Universal Time)
Did you see the eclipse? If so, did you notice the moon’s color during the totality, or middle part of the eclipse? Color on the moon during a total lunar eclipse can vary, depending on atmospheric conditions. Volcanic activity, for instance, can result in a darker total eclipse, almost wiping the moon from view. Otherwise, a totally eclipsed moon might appear coppery-red. That’s because the dispersed sunlight from all the world’s sunrises and sunsets gently illuminates the darkened lunar terrain. After all, if you were at the moon, looking back at Earth, you’d see a total eclipse of the sun.
December 10, 2011 total eclipse of the moon as seen above the desert city of Phoenix, Arizona. Image Credit: Mike Morton
Click here to expand image above
Total eclipse of the moon December 10, 2011 GALLERY
Why does the moon look red during a total lunar eclipse?
Five best things to see during a lunar eclipse, from the moon
Sure be nice to have an eclipse times for different time zones – the not so handy naval observatory site requires for any non US site entering hours from Greenich time – so where do I look that up?
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/A-Dawn-Eclipse-of-the-Moon-134436603.html gives the times for different time zones
Jesus is coming soon..
What time does it start for australia?
What time does starts in india
Wen is it gunna happen I live in queensland Australia
What time in oz bro
i live in minnesota, and really want to show my three kids with autism but don’t think they will be happy with me if i wake them and nothing happens. its cold out, but i keep checking. is there any way someone could PLEASE give me a time when we might be able to see it here ?
But the moon is not a full moon
wao the moon is black and white
Hi, from the Philippines!
Saw the Moon, orangy shade….and two shooting stars !
aslam o alaikum to all. I saw moon now it is locking like red. We all muslims should pray for moon. If u r nt muslim plz get muslim religon it is tru religion plz plz
why do muslim people blow them selfs up and others?? i think that muslim are strainge
Oh, i’ve watched, frm uzbekistan.
It s still goin on, the moon s fully dark now.
Today, It is very good night that I never saw before.
Who can tell me Why It like that?
yea it is Astronomy (Science of celestial bodies in the sky) everything is revolving arounr its centre so when earth becime in the middle of Sun and Moon this will hapens……..Arif Mahmood Pakistan (aarifmahmood@hotmail.com)
Now in Cambodia. It still fully dark.
hey in india fully reddish colour ya ……
Waooooo what a nice scene of MOOOOON
today dec 10.the moon look like a red colour ya …..upto 9 ….after that it comes back to original colour
i have seen all. . shet sakita sa akong ulo oy sa sige ug hangad. .
Iam watched it in Kavieng town which is in Papua New Guinea. Saw the moon red in color.
it looks awesom tonight , from pakistan
good scenes and knowledge
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tonight is not the 11th so the eclips is tonight
Nice eclipse
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I’m in Florida and totally seen the eclipse! I got some really good pics from my I phone that you can see a plant right beside the moon. It is amazing!
Oops! I meant planet
[...] the word “awesome” has been trivialized somewhat (that cookie was “awesome”/your hat is “awesome”) but the eclipse was awesome! http://earthsky.org/tonight/total-lunar-eclipse-darkens-the-night-of-december-10 [...]
Yes! over the Pacific ocean no less!
The place, Moonlight Beach, was packed by dawn… almost looked summer in the park.
I took many pics and I will make a slide show out of them.
Thanks for the information on the eclipse.
Blessings