Lunar Eclipse at Tasca Field

Thank you to all the Skyscrapers members who brought telescopes to Tasca Field for the Total Lunar Eclipse.

Congratulations to Glenn Jackson for organizing this event.

At one point we had perhaps 300 people waiting for the Moon to rise. While waiting we showed them Venus, and we talked to many individuals and families about various topics in astronomy.

Unfortunately very thick and low clouds completely obscurred totality. Most of the crowd left once it was apparent totality had ended and we still couldn't see the Moon.

Sometime between 7:05 and 7:10 pm the Moon finally peeked through the overcast, showing a crescent phase as sunlight began to once again bathe the lunar surface. A huge cheer was offered by the now small group who had stuck around, mostly our members, and perhaps 15 or so guests. Observers got a good look at the subtle shadings of orange and copper coloration on the lunar surface still within the Earth's dark umbral shadow. Very quickly the clouds departed and the partial phase was visible in a cloudless sky.

Better luck next time. Some guests also got a glimpse of Saturn as it peeked between breaks in the cloud cover.

Thanks again to those of you who volunteered. Despite the poor viewing, it was still good publicity for the Skyscraper organization.