Lunar Eclipse 3rd March 2007

After a friend pointed out the impending alignment of celestial bodies I was able to take the following pictures in less than ideal circumstances.  I had no tripod or special lens, just a window ledge and the built in x4 zoom of the camera.  My camera is a Sony DSC-V1 set to picture size 2592 x 1944.  The images below are cropped but not resized nor altered in any other way.  I intend to get a tripod and zoom lens in the future, but more to improve my model pictures than astronomy!

At least now I know that physics is correct and not a gigantic government conspiracy.  (I was worried at first when I saw no evidence for the penumbra!)  However, you don't know if I'm part of the conspiracy as well...

	20:22 GMT 03/03/2007
	20:42 GMT 03/03/2007
	21:07 GMT 03/03/2007
	21:29 GMT 03/03/2007 Entering the umbra. I saw no evidence for the penumbra!
	21:32 GMT 03/03/2007
	21:41 GMT 03/03/2007
	21:47 GMT 03/03/2007
	21:56 GMT 03/03/2007
	22:05 GMT 03/03/2007
	22:08 GMT 03/03/2007
	22:15 GMT 03/03/2007
	22:22 GMT 03/03/2007
	22:32 GMT 03/03/2007
	22:37 GMT 03/03/2007
	23:01 GMT 03/03/2007 During totality. Very faint, without a tripod for long exposures it is difficult to record that which is easily visible to the naked eye.
	23:30 GMT 03/03/2007 During totality. Mid-eclipse is at 23:21 GMT. Long exposure picture (4s) without tripod!  Size consistent with earlier observations.

Using unverified (the politest way of saying it) data from Wikipedia then the Moon's equatorial radius is 1738.14 km and using my picture at 20:22 GMT with an 88 pixel equator then my camera has achieved a resolution of 39.5 km/pixel at a distance of 378,000 km.  Splendid.

According to the BBC News website then the penumbra is entered at 20:18 GMT, the umbra at 21:30 GMT and totality begins at 22:44 GMT.  My measurements are consistent with this prediction but were not sensitive enough to detect the penumbra (is that the blue tint?).  

If this doesn't inspire more pupils to study physics to A-level and beyond, despite the continual watering-down of syllabuses (the Department for Education and Skills and the Lack Thereof obviously believes in Homeopathy) , then just what will?