Stupid clouds.

Fleetingly, the winter solstice lunar eclipse made a stunning appearance 40 minutes in to the birth of 2010’s first day of winter .

Admittingly, the last solstice eclipse in 1991 I missed. Sleeping probably. No way was I going to miss this one.  Now I can say “been there done that”.   For sure, most of us late baby boomer types will be 128 years old when the year 2094 rolls around- the next time a lunar eclipse falls on the winter solstice.

Crud, I just want to make it to 50.

Can you imagine what a pain in the neck hand holding a 500mm lens with a 2x converter (that’s a 1,000 mm lens) at ISO 3200 with 1/160 of a second shutter speed at 128 years of age would be? It’s a good thing I tried it today.

At the crescendo of the eclipse, clouds crept in and blocked the view. Then, rain.  Again.  I don’t know about you, but it seems old man winter has been around for a couple of months now.

Stupid clouds.

A lunar eclipse is well under way when clouds part, Monday night Dec. 20, 2010. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2010

A lunar eclipse is nearly complete on the winter solstice, Tuesday morning Dec. 21, 2010. Seconds later, clouds obscured the view. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2010

A lunar eclipse is nearly complete on the winter solstice, Tuesday morning Dec. 21, 2010. Seconds later, clouds obscured the view. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2010

-Kent Porter

(Visited 13 times, 1 visits today)