Total Lunar Eclipse

In the summer of 2017 we witnessed a total solar eclipse.  At my home, only a partial eclipse was visible and then even that was spoiled by some heavy clouds.

On January 31, 2018 there was Super Blue Blood Moon Eclipse.  This eclipse is sometimes called blood moons due to the reddish-orange glow the moon takes on during the eclipse.  This particular eclipse was also on a Blue Moon-the second full moon in a month.  And it was almost a Super moon where the moon is closest to earth.

I was fortunate to be visiting family in Hawaii where the eclipse would be visible in totality.  Unfortunately Mother Nature did not cooperate as there was a cold front moving in which produced heavy cloud cover.  The full mon was supposed to happen at 12:51 am, however the clouds were too thick to see it (What are the odds of having two total eclipses spoiled by clouds?).  The eclipse itself was to begin at 1:48 and there were still plenty of clouds but I had hope that there would be some breaks so I set up the camera and crossed my fingers.

Every so often you could see the moon through the clouds.  There were still light clouds over the moon which made photos appear out of focus and although the human eye could distinguish a beautiful eclipsing moon, the camera could not.  But not to give up I kept taking images when there would be a break in the clouds.

I had hoped for a progression of images from full moon, through the various stages of the eclipse and then back to full moon.  In the end, I was able to get several images before the clouds again blotted out any hope of seeing the moon.

I hear there will be another total solar eclipse in April 2019...hopefully I will be able to beat the odds and photograph it without clouds!