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Jan 31, 2018

Total Eclipse of the Super Blue Blood Moon

For the first time since 1866, I have been told, we have experienced a Super Blue Blood Moon.  The eclipse portion, while past peak, is still happening as I type (finishes at 2-something a.m.).  I happened to be out on a walk across town when the moon was still rising and looked quite large against the buildings of Shinjuku.

Total Eclipse of the Super Blue Blood Moon photo

Zoomed in:

Total Eclipse of the Super Blue Blood Moon photo


Total Eclipse of the Super Blue Blood Moon photo


As wonderful as my phone's camera is, it does not take night photos as the quality I would like, but oh well.


A number of hours later, things had progressed with the eclipse:

Total Eclipse of the Super Blue Blood Moon photo

To the naked eye, this appeared 1/3 covered. 


And around 10 p.m., when I returned to my home station, people were noticing and taking photos:

Total Eclipse of the Super Blue Blood Moon photo


Near totality. Un-zoomed:

Total Eclipse of the Super Blue Blood Moon photo

Zoomed:

Total Eclipse of the Super Blue Blood Moon photo

Totality:

Total Eclipse of the Super Blue Blood Moon photo


I do wish my camera did a bit better.


Eclipses really are quite something, I think.  This is only the second lunar one I have seen/watched that I remember.  I am not sure how I missed them growing up or as a younger-than-now adult, though I did live in a cloudy region of the U.S.  The first one I remember watching was about 6 years ago with a friend and her family here in Tokyo.  Glad I am more aware of them now, and know to look up!

TheHikingAlto

TheHikingAlto

I am a hiker, walker, and abundant photo-taker. After spending my first many years in Japan in Tochigi, I relocated to Tokyo at the end of 2012. I love visiting the numerous temples, shrines, castles, and former castles that can be found in the mountains, rural areas, and tucked away within cities.


4 Comments

  • edthethe

    on Feb 1

    oh, I went outside to look at it. I should have thought to take pictures....but it was so cold....

  • KamaT

    on Feb 1

    Took a look from the balcony of my apartment in Chiba. It was a pretty clear sky, wasn't it? I tried to take a picture with the smartphone but it didn't look like anything basically. I'll just have to commit it to memory!

  • TheHikingAlto

    on Feb 1

    @edthethe It was very cold! Had I been home the whole evening, there would have been many fewer photos.

  • TheHikingAlto

    on Feb 1

    @Tomuu Yes, the sky was very clear! It had been forecast to be cloudy. I looked out around 11pm, and the clouds had come, so I think we had very good timing. The smart phones don't do so well with moon photos, unfortunately.