VIDEO: Eclipse Spectators are Early to Rise

By Wendy Osher

[flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayf8VXAG-IA /] Sky watchers were early to rise for the pre-dawn viewing of a total lunar eclipse over Hawaii skies on Saturday morning, December 10, 2011.

Spectators took early morning strolls along the shores of Ko’olina to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon, while fishermen cast their lines beneath the red-amber moon of a nearby cove.

The event lasted for several hours beginning at 2:45 a.m. and ending at around 6:20 a.m.  The total phase of the eclipse, according to viewing material posted by the Bishop Museum’s Watumull Planetarium, was between 4:10 and 4:55 a.m. HST.

The moon turned a reddish-amber color as the total phase approached, with clouds kept at bay for much of the key viewing period.

According to the planetarium’s viewing materials, the color of the moon can vary during a lunar eclipse, depending on the amount of particulates in the earth’s atmosphere. Volcanic activity can reportedly create darker conditions, while clear skies often result in more reddish conditions.

The color of the moon intensified to a reddish copper tinge during the total phase of the eclipse. Photo by Wendy Osher.

A reddish copper glow could be seen as the eclipse entered its total stage during the 4 a.m. hour on December 10, 2011. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Just hours before the eclipse began, the moon's bright white glow could be seen from behind passing clouds. Photo by Wendy Osher.

On the eve of the December 10, 2011 lunar eclipse, the bright white of the moon was visible through passing clouds over Ko'olina. Photo by Wendy Osher.