Due to cloud cover on the eastern horizon, the lunar spectacle in Gainesville was first visible in early post-umbral phase. Image is a composite of six frames. T he Total Lunar Eclipse of 1996 September 26, the second of the year, was visible on the eastern coast in its entirety. The Moon's eccentric passage through Earth's umbral shadow was evident during totality as an intensity gradient of brilliant copper-red tones shifted from east to west across the northern lunar pole. Image is a composite of twenty-four frames.
Image is a composite of three frames.
T his photographic series depicts the three phases of full moon which appeared on September 26. Earth's shadow has two distinct regions, the umbra and the penumbra. The umbra casts the darkest shadow and represents the region in which all direct sunlight is obscured. The Moon enters total eclipse when passing through this region. Illumination of the lunar surface during totality is the result of sunlight refracted by Earth's atmospheric which casts a ruddy-copper glow.