The UMD Astronomy Observatory Remains Closed

Fall 2024 Update: The UMD Astronomy Observatory remains closed to all public outreach activities.

lunar eclipse chart
Photographing the Lunar Eclipse

If you would like to photograph the Lunar Eclipse, be sure to check out some of the following sites for tips and techniques.

- MrEclipse.com
- www.eclipse-chasers.com

In addition, it doesn't hurt to make a practice run on Monday or Tuesday night (framing the moon with some interesting trees, practice timing, etc).

Finally, if you have an SLR camera (i.e., camera with removable lens) and a t-ring for your camera, we will have one of our scopes set up so that people can take turns taking pictures through the telescope. It will be simple prime-focus photography. If you would like to take a picture through the telescope, you must provide your own camera (and film), t-ring, and preferably your own shutter release cable.

What: Total Lunar Eclipse observing
Where: by the Sundial on McKeldin Mall on UMD's College Park campus
When: 27 October 2004, 9pm-midnight
Parking: Regent's Drive Garage, then 2 blocks south to McKeldin Mall
Public Transportation: Take the Metro (Green Line) to the College Park Station and ride the UMD Shuttle back to campus, get off at Stamp Student Union and walk south 1 block

pdf flier for folks to print and post!

Students and the public are invited to come view the Total Lunar Eclipse on 27 October with Dept. of Astronomy Observatory staff. Weather permitting, the eclipse will be visible with the un-aided eye (the bright full moon will turn dark and seemingly disappear as it passes through the Earth's shadow). Observatory staff will be on hand to answer questions about the event as well as having some smaller telescopes for visitors to look through. We will set up near the Sundial on McKeldin Mall. The event is free! If you like, bring a lawn chair (or blanket), binoculars and some light snacks (no alcoholic beverages!) and have a picnic under the stars!

Campus Visitor Information

Where to look in the sky...

sky chart of lunar eclipse
At about 10pm, the Pleiades and Hyades, two open star clusters will be visible down and left of the moon.

You don't have to come to campus to see the Lunar Eclipse. You can stay at home as well. Just look east starting around 9pm. You should see the moon low in the east. As the evening progresses, the moon will get higher in the sky, but it will also be moving through the earth's shadow. Between 10:23pm and 11:45pm, the Moon will be in the main part of the shadow (Umbra) and will be darkest.

Observing Elsewhere