Total Lunar Eclipse of 10 December 2011
Moments of leaving Umbra of Totality.
Lunar Eclipse 10th December 2011
Though disappointing - I haven't missed in full nor experienced to a good satisfaction, witnessing the event is mostly peeping through those mercilessly slow drifting clouds apart from already disgusting smog.
No more Lunar eclipses in Totality of this magnitude visible in India up until 2018 July / 2025 September . A partial in 2013 April / 2017 August.
2011 Total Lunar eclipses have associated with both monsoon season clouds, Altogether 15 June 2011 total Lunar eclipse from Chennai is 'Great' being at Zenith. 10 December 2011 total Lunar eclipse is an oppurtunity unexploited.
Oppurtunities are many in Lunar Eclipses, for Moon goes quiescent for about 1.5 - 2 years with partial and penumbral eclipses, then for next 1 - 1.5 years vibrant with Totalities, so better chances. Chances for a Total Lunar eclipse also stands good, visibility ranges with nearly Two - Thirds of earth i.e. 240 degrees of Longitudes visibilty as a Total lunar eclipse spans 4.5 hours with totality of upto 1.5 hours.
Learnings
Choosing the location for this Event and Tools.
Locations at my hand with a fair idea of locality and residence availability are Chennai, Razole and Vizag. As a first step the season prevailing during early days in the month of December. In the order of increasing Latitude
Started to trek up hill over the concreted cement route, as I reached view point of yarada, there was faint orange painting beside a building absolutely at the estimated location for moon raise, what can I say - birth of 'Hope' quickly identified a near by berthing point for a better view, unwrapped the newspaper sheets set up the Tripod, unpacked my camera loaded on the battery cartridge, plugged in remote trigger unit and positioned firm for "nature lamp" - "expected to fade out soon", on every glimpse of loose clouding - managed with my device to record the changing sequence of this event,closely located to Naval quarters, fairly secure - being on road got to answer few suspecting and inspecting passers with this exciting news and bringing down their curiosity as this diminished Moon.
It was quite late as I walked down in solitude the wide connected mountains until the moon returned back to its lost glory at 10:30pm, way back to reach well connected city parts to make way back home to dine at 11:20pm.
New ideas for the place
Though disappointing - I haven't missed in full nor experienced to a good satisfaction, witnessing the event is mostly peeping through those mercilessly slow drifting clouds apart from already disgusting smog.
No more Lunar eclipses in Totality of this magnitude visible in India up until 2018 July / 2025 September . A partial in 2013 April / 2017 August.
2011 Total Lunar eclipses have associated with both monsoon season clouds, Altogether 15 June 2011 total Lunar eclipse from Chennai is 'Great' being at Zenith. 10 December 2011 total Lunar eclipse is an oppurtunity unexploited.
Oppurtunities are many in Lunar Eclipses, for Moon goes quiescent for about 1.5 - 2 years with partial and penumbral eclipses, then for next 1 - 1.5 years vibrant with Totalities, so better chances. Chances for a Total Lunar eclipse also stands good, visibility ranges with nearly Two - Thirds of earth i.e. 240 degrees of Longitudes visibilty as a Total lunar eclipse spans 4.5 hours with totality of upto 1.5 hours.
- Location: Seasonal weather, cloud cover, security, Light pollution.
- Orientation:Camera alignment, View, Light pollution.
- Light Pollution: Avoid glare, eclipse is always dim light.
- Security: Long night stay
- Industry Lights in early eclipse moments have been infuriating.
- Avoiding light pollution site is difficult with eclipse immediately after sunset, for pure security reasons in solitude travel.
Learnings
- Exposure 5 seconds - ISO 200/400 - f 8.0/ 9.0/ 10.0 for Sigma APO 4.5-5.6/ 70-300mm Lens.
- Light pollution avoiding is Must, for low light events like Total Lunar and Total solar eclipses for events located at Horizon.
Choosing the location for this Event and Tools.
Locations at my hand with a fair idea of locality and residence availability are Chennai, Razole and Vizag. As a first step the season prevailing during early days in the month of December. In the order of increasing Latitude
- Chennai (12.9 degree)
- Razole (16.4 degree)
- Vizag (17.6 degree)
- Factories being major light polluter for this city lie east to my House, the only option in my mind is taking some mountain hide so Inner Yarada, was my choice.
- Sun near Winter solistice so Moon is located at Sun's summer solitice - this makes Moon is expected to raise from NorthEast - East, a little disappointing, I cannot really escape light pollution effectively, sun earth tools give the direction of Sun rays or shadow path for a location (eclipse is all about a straight line, select sun shadow so there you get the position of moon)
Started to trek up hill over the concreted cement route, as I reached view point of yarada, there was faint orange painting beside a building absolutely at the estimated location for moon raise, what can I say - birth of 'Hope' quickly identified a near by berthing point for a better view, unwrapped the newspaper sheets set up the Tripod, unpacked my camera loaded on the battery cartridge, plugged in remote trigger unit and positioned firm for "nature lamp" - "expected to fade out soon", on every glimpse of loose clouding - managed with my device to record the changing sequence of this event,closely located to Naval quarters, fairly secure - being on road got to answer few suspecting and inspecting passers with this exciting news and bringing down their curiosity as this diminished Moon.
It was quite late as I walked down in solitude the wide connected mountains until the moon returned back to its lost glory at 10:30pm, way back to reach well connected city parts to make way back home to dine at 11:20pm.
New ideas for the place
- Shoot the Light House with its Lighted Hoods - Aiming Long exposure shoot and Fog must help me showcasing the hood (Light Beams) looking out for a cold foggy dawn, this winter.
- A panoramic take is in the offing - angling in an aerial kind of view overlooking HPCL, HSL, Dockyards, illuminated residential colonies. (Wide-angled Lens, on Tripod Head for panorama)