A Celestial Spectacle: Lunar Eclipse Through a Cloudy Sky
Even with clouds obscuring parts of the sky, nature can put on a truly magical show. This incredible photograph captures a lunar eclipse, showcasing the Earth's shadow creeping across the face of our Moon. Many viewers have noted how this obstructed view, paradoxically, enhances the visual drama, offering a unique perspective on this celestial event.
Understanding the Colors of an Eclipse
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth positions itself directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow onto the lunar surface. During the peak of the eclipse, often referred to as totality, the Moon doesn't disappear entirely. Instead, it takes on a characteristic reddish hue. This captivating color is a result of Rayleigh scattering, the same phenomenon that makes our sunsets red. As sunlight passes through Earth's atmosphere, shorter blue wavelengths are scattered away by atmospheric particles, while longer red wavelengths are refracted and bent, ultimately illuminating the Moon.
The Subtle Blue Fringe
During the partial phases of a lunar eclipse, keen observers might notice a faint blue-violet fringe along the edge of Earth's shadow. This subtle beauty is attributed to the selective absorption of light by Earth's stratospheric ozone layer. Ozone absorbs red and yellow wavelengths, allowing blue and violet light to pass through and refract around our planet's limb. The intensity and specific shades of color observed during an eclipse are influenced by various atmospheric conditions, including the presence of dust, water vapor, and aerosols in the air.
Capturing the Moment
This stunning image was captured using a Sony a7s ii camera paired with a GSO 150/750 telescope and an Arsenal EQ5 mount. To achieve the remarkable detail and dynamic range, an HDR technique was employed, combining two exposures: one at 2000 ISO for 1/6th of a second, and another at 100 ISO for 1/80th of a second. The photograph was taken in Kyiv, Ukraine.
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