Fortunately, it was a cloud-free and fog-free night on October 27, 2004, during a previous total eclipse of the moon visible from San Francisco, when I took this shot from my roof. As the moon was in the total eclipse stage, it took on an eerie blood-red color, which washed out as the sun's rays returned.
Sights like this used to absolutely freak out pre-scientific god-believing indigenous peoples. A bloody moon much like this saved Christopher Columbus and his fourth voyage crew after being stranded in Jamaica for almost a year, wearing out their welcome with the natives. Columbus knew that a total eclipse of the moon would occur on February 29, 1504 and told the natives that the gods, angry with them for scaling back provisions for him and his famished men, would make the moon disappear. As this happened, Columbus then told them the gods had forgiven them just as the eclipse ended. He and his crew did not go hungry again.
11 comments:
Great piece of Trivia !!!!!
great minds.........
hey, check this one out:
http://vleeptronz.blogspot.com/2007/01/here-it-is-comet-mcnaught-above-cape.html
uhhh how did u like the Joan Jett show? she's gonna be playing near me in a couple of weeks (at the big state fair), i'm tempted. is she still playing w the blackhearts?
Interesting site!
Sorry you missed the eclipse ... I think our next one here is 2011.
great pic from 2004. This one was not visible in our neck of the woods this time but we got a good view back in March -- http://ackworthborn.blogspot.com/2007/03/lunar-eclipse-poetry.html
Aloha! Here on the Big Island of Hawaii my Mom and I watched the Lunar Eclipse which began around 11:14pm Hawaii Time and then I saw the end of it after 1:30 am with my husband. It was a moonlit night in a very different way. The moon looked like it was within my reach and yet so far away!
Well, you know where I leave and as I was going up to bed, through this huge window by our stairs, I had a fabulous view of the moon... but we are talking 11pm and dammitall I taught at 6:30 am the next morning so I had to turn in but I hope my area got bogged down with fog as did yours (though I am sorry yours did!)... yes, that is what happened, I woudl have missed it anyway...
Well, there's always a next time!
That is really a great shot.
Sorry you missed the eclipse. I watched for 4 hours. I am just courious how you found my blog. I am new to this blogging thing and wondered how one finds others of the same thinking. Steve
Wow, that is an amazing photo!
Excellent!
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