Lunar Eclipse At Dawn, Southeast Utah

Lunar eclipse, slightly past Totality.

Last week’s lunar eclipse was relatively easy to deal with in that it occurred so late in the night. Meaning it happened nearer to dawn than during the most wee hours of the night. Just get up extra early and stay up for sunrise shots, instead of collapsing back into bed.

The full moon began passing into the Earth’s shadow about 4:15 a.m. Utah time. After peering out the window to conform I had the time right, I showered and ate an early breakfast.

Then out to a favorite spot on Cedar Mesa with a completely clear view of the western horizon. It was cold, but not really freezing. I kind of cheated by setting up the camera on tripod and taking some shots at intervals, retreating to the warm cab of my vehicle for more coffee. Call me a wimp if you want to, but let’s see your shots first. And it was my first lunar eclipse shoot, so I should get some extra slack there. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, which is all that really matters anyway.

The 300mm zoom shots were kind of soft. Need more experience there.

But I was more interested in what the scenery would look like as first light appeared, then full dawn.

Lunar eclipse at first light, over Deer Flat and Moss Back Butte.

I wasn’t disappointed. Not with a clear sky and high desert mesas in the distance. From black and deep blue silhouettes with the moon starting to come back out of eclipse, then to dawn light with the Earth’s deep blue shadow and the pink Venus Band above it.

Top crescent of the moon past Totality, in the pre-dawn sky.

The last two shots show the moon only partially in eclipse again, coming out of it, right on the edge of Earth’s shadow.

The violet Venus Band showing above Earth’s shadow as the moon continues to set.

Finally, the moon faded gracefully from view into the haze on the western horizon as sunrise approached.

Photo location: Cedar Mesa, San Juan County, Utah.

© 2015 Stephen J. Krieg