Partial Lunar Eclipse – 26 June 2010 – Observed from Alice Springs NT, Australia

We admired the beautiful full moon in the early evening of 26 June 2010, but had no idea that there was to be a partial lunar eclipse, until we received a phone-call from my father in Canberra suggesting we have a look into the night sky.  A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth’s shadow blocks the sun’s rays from striking all or, in the case of a partial eclipse, some of the moon.  As it can only occur when the sun, earth and moon are in full alignment (or close to it), a lunar eclipse only occurs during the full moon.  Around half of the moon was to be in shadow during this eclipse. 

Unfortunately, we missed the start of the partial eclipse, and the first couple of hand-held photos are somewhat blurred.  Once the tripod was set up the photos improved.  I took the first photo at 8.06 PM Australian Central Standard Time (8.36PM Aust Eastern Standard Time) and took the final one of the series at 10.36PM ACST, by which time I was just about frozen solid.

Thanks Mum and Dad for the call!

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 8.06PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 8.08PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 8.26PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 8.43PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 8.47PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 8.51PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 8.55PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 9.04PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 9.09PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 9.20PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 9.33PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 9.39PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 9.49PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 9.53PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 10.01PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 10.06PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 10.14PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 10.20PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 10.25PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 10.29PM Australian Central Standard Time

Partial lunar eclipse seen from Alice Springs, 26 June 2010, 10.36PM Australian Central Standard Time

Comments
  • Kim:

    Gret Pics….thank you..we saw it from Adelaide and it was just like this..but didnt have a decent camera to record it.. the only other pics i saw of it were pretty ordinary..thanks again..

  • June:

    Saw this same eclipse while camped at Rabbit Flat road house. I took a few pics through the night but not the same quality as yours as i could only lean the camera on the bumper of a truck… thanks for sharing your sequence…

  • Betty Franklin:

    Had the absolute pleasure of seeing it from Bare Sand Island, NT while volunteering with a turtle tagging team from Charles Darwin Uni. One of the most magic moments of my life! Thank you for the lovely photos. Mine weren’t nearly as good.

  • Kylie:

    What an amazing day, we got married on the 26th of june and at the reception one of the guests i was speaking to asked if we new there was an eclipse.

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