Sun and Moon?

I love the full moon. In part because it shows up right at sunset, and sticks up through the night, disappearing at dawn. It's really cool how the geometry of something as large as the solar system can become so apparent. Sometimes, if you're lucky, atmospheric conditions refract the sun's light just enough so you can see the tiniest bit of sunrise just as the moon is slipping past the western horizon. It's like in that movie "Ladyhawke" where Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer get to see each other for the briefest of moments between night and day. Until... well perhaps you'll have to watch the movie to see what tough Rutger does to the mean bishop. Oh, and it's got a young (pre Ferris) Matthew Broderic, too.

That was my hope during this morning's eclipse. Not to reunite star-crossed lovers, but to see the sun and moon at the same time. Sadly, the setting moon ducked behind some clouds in the last few minutes before the sun came over the horizon. I'm pretty sure I picked a good spot for the attempt though. Here's the closest I came to seeing them both (stitched in Photoshop from about six individual frames):


You'll have to click to see more than just some patches of blue and purple, though.

The kind of Eclipse I enjoyed watching

This morning's eclipse wasn't fully visible here in western Wisconsin, but the moon started to move into the earth's shadow as it set over the western horizon. The moon ducked behind a low bank of clouds, so I wasn't able to see if the sunrise could catch up.



It was about zero degrees outside - much too cold to make it truly enjoyable, but it was worth it - especially since there's not going to be another total lunar eclipse for a few years.


And this is what we started with (and what those of you around the Pacific ended with).