horalek.peter@gmail.com
imaginer21

Perigee and Apogee Lunar Eclipses

Perigee and Apogee Lunar Eclipses 2018

In 2018, very unusual astronomical situation occured: both perigee and apogee full Moons were totally eclipsed. The first one, on 31 January 2018, was one of two so called “supermoons” of 2018 and also second full Moon of the same month (in UTC time), making this one Super Blue Blood Moon. Even if the perigee occured 1 day 3 hours and 33 minutes before the time of full Moon (and maximum of lunar eclipse), it was largest totally eclipsed Moon in the sky until 8 September 2033. I was lucky enough to capture the phenomenon over Ko Samui, Thailand.

The second one, on 27 July 2018, was even more interesting as the eclipse itself took a central stage as the century’s longest one (with 1 hour and 43 minutes long duration of totality). The Moon approached its apogee point just 14 hours and 37 minutes before the full Moon (and maximal eclipse) phase, making it angularly about 12,9 percents smaller than the January one. In this case, I was observing the phenomenon from sunny Rhodes Island, Greece.

The next sequence of perigee and apogee total lunar eclipses will occur in 2033 (eclipsed “micromoon” on 14 April occurs 2 days 16 hours and 51 minutes after apogee, and eclipsed “supermoon” on 8 September only 1 hour and 13 minutes before perigee) and even better in 2036 (eclipsed “supermoon” on 11 February occurs 1 day 1 hour and 13 minutes after perigee, and eclipsed “micromoon” on 7 August only 6 hours and 51 minutes after apogee). Will you wait for that? 🙂

To preserve true angular proportions of both captured eclipses, during its maximal phases, I used completely identical equipment: Canon 6D, Canon 6D, MTO 1100mm, f10.5 on Vixen GP-2 mount, with same camera settings too.

Following image compares the regualr Perigee and Apogee Full Moons 2018 (in case of second one the Full Moon phase was captured after lunar eclipse).

Perigee and Apogee Full Moons 2018 (not eclipsed)

Perigee and Apogee Full Moons 2018 (not eclipsed)