Rare Total Lunar Eclipse, Blue Moon, and Super Moon January 31, 2018: When and How to See it, Photograph it, and Watch Live: From Laramie, Wyoming Professional Photographer

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What is so special about this Total Lunar Eclipse?

The last time a supermoon, blue moon, and total lunar eclipse coincided as one big cosmic event visible from Earth was 35 years ago in December 1982 and the last time it was seen in America was 150 years ago according to National Geographic. Although a blue moon only means it is the second full moon to occur in a calendar month, the moon will in fact turn red, or into a blood moon, during the dramatic lunar eclipse this Wednesday, January 31st, 2018. The phenomenon of a total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow, called the Umbra, which darkens the Moon’s surface into a blood red color while a supermoon means that the moon will literally be closer to earth, thus appearing slightly larger. The reddish color is from the red spectrum of sunlight as it is bent through the Earth’s atmosphere and reflects back off the moon’s surface. So when exactly can you see this rare super blue blood moon?

 

When to View the Super Blue Blood Moon:

According to the Cheyenne, Wyoming US National Weather Service, the specific parts of the eclipse will occur at the following times (in Mountain Standard Time) viewable in Laramie and South East Wyoming, weather permitting:

Partial eclipse begins: 4:48 AM
Total eclipse begins: 5:52 AM
Total eclipse ends: 7:08 AM
Moonset: Around 7:14 AM.

You can view lunar eclipses safely with the naked eye, however binoculars or telescopes are definitely preferred. The moon will set shortly after the total phase of the eclipse ends so be sure to look to the West early Wednesday morning on January 31st, 2018. The next total lunar eclipse visible from Wyoming will be during the evening of January 20th, 2019 so lets hope for clear skies and don’t forget to look up! Click here to find eclipse timings across North America.

 

Tips for Photographing A Total Lunar Eclipse:

  • Use a long telephoto lens. Use a focal length of at least 200 or 300 mm or more and be sure to use a good solid tripod along with a shutter release or timer so you can minimize camera shake
  • Use manual exposure. As the eclipse starts, the brightness of the moon will get darker, and thus you will also need to constantly re-adust your exposure. A good starting exposure for a normal full moon is about 1/125th of a second @ f/11, ISO 200. During a total eclipse, the moon is about 8 full stops darker than a normal full moon, so as the eclipse progresses increase your ISO and your shutter speed to compensate. During the eclipse, use a shutter speed faster than about 1 or 2 seconds (the longer your focal length the faster your shutter needs to be to prevent blurring) so the details on the moon don’t blur, shoot using your widest aperture, and then adjust your ISO to a larger number.
  • Use manual focus. Turn off your autofocus and with to manual focus and set it to infinity on your lens. Every lens has it’s own sweet spot where the focus is sharp. Make sure to keep your aperture smaller than f/11 to prevent diffraction
  • Keep shooting and experiment. Always keep experimenting and try different settings and techniques to see what you can come up with but most of all, have fun!

 

Can I still see it if it’s cloudy?


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