Total Eclipse of the Moon

Early this Saturday morning there was a total lunar eclipse, a rare celestial phenomenon – the last one before April 2014. Heavy cloud cover made viewing difficult, but starting at 6 am, the moon turned a deep shade of red, a sliver of the crescent shadow highlighted before clouds obscured the burnished orb. (Play the video below while reading further...)

The moon took on a reddish glow, as some indirect sunlight continued to reach it after passing through the earth's atmosphere.  A lunar eclipse happens when the earth blocks the sun's light from reflecting off the moon, casting an eerie shadow over its surface. The moon, following its orbit around the earth, passes directly behind our planet (as seen from the sun). And so we have a total eclipse of the moon. During a total lunar eclipse such as we had this morning, the moon is obscured completely from view. 

As I watched from my early morning vigil, I was reminded of Ray Pfortner's moon shots in the Courtyard last month, during the full moon we had here in November in Seattle.  These photographs call to mind the powerful pull of the moon, seen and felt all across the globe.

Photographer Ray Pfortner captured Knowing the Spring Courtyard while teaching a photography class at the Garden during a full moon shoot.  After the total eclipse today I thought of how connected we all are, watching the moon, miles away from each other...

Miles Away From Light At Noon

Total Eclipse Of The Moon

Many Reasons To Believe In Life

Just Listen What It`s Telling You

(Enigma)