Total Lunar Eclipse of October 8, 2014

During the early hours of October 8, 2014, I woke up early to observe a total lunar eclipse for the first time. It was an amazing experience.

Here are some highlights from the numerous pictures I took with a point-and-shoot camera aimed through the a 25mm Plössl eyepiece on my 102mm f/12.7 Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope.

Penumbral Eclipse Begins, 1:17 AM

Full Moon, 1:47 AM.

Backyard perspective (telescope and finder scope in upper right), 1:56 AM.

Umbral Eclipse Begins, 2:18 AM

Early stage of umbral eclipse, 2:20 AM.

Early stage of umbral eclipse, 2:26 AM.

Backyard perspective, 2:32 AM.

Umbral eclipse sets in, 2:48 AM.

View of progressing umbral eclipse from the perspective of the unaided eye, 3:01 AM.

Later stage of umbral eclipse, 3:13 AM.

Total Eclipse Begins, 3:27 AM

Beginning of total eclipse, 3:27 AM.

Total eclipse continues, 3:33 AM.

Maximum Total Eclipse, 3:55 AM

Just after maximum total eclipse, 4:03 AM.