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Lunar Eclipse

TThe year’s second total eclipse was visible in its entirety to observers in Eastern Australia and New Zealand. With the Moon passing deep into the umbral shadow this eclipse was relatively dark, with the southern half of the Moon appearing lighter than the northern half.

The further west on the continent the more interference was experienced from the evening twilight – however, the sky was dark enough at the beginning of totality to enjoy the rest of the eclipse from most eastern and central Australian locations. Alas, from Perth only the final stages of the event were visible, with the totally eclipsed Moon rising as the Sun set – unlike a normal moonrise, the eclipsed Moon was very difficult to see until the sky darkened.

                    —Tony Bayes