Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Total Luna Eclipse of the Heart

What a morning! I woke up before way before dawn this morning and managed to catch the eclipse of the moon without any pre-knowledge that it was going to happen. I must catch up on the news. Looking out from the kitchen window, it was quite a sight as the moon took on a reddish hue from the sunlight bouncing off the sun. It was a total lunar eclipse that occurs when the moon moves into the shadow of our beautiful Earth. Our dear luna moon passed through Earth's main dark, circular shadow, the umbra (the darkest point of a shadow). It then moves through a lighter region of shadow, the penumbra (light source is partially blocked, and there's a partial shadow), surrounding the umbra. I was completely mesmerized from 4am to 6am. Had the window opened, and there was a comforting, cool breeze blowing into the house as I sat there and watched the moon in the cloudless sky. What a wonderful reminder that we are all living in the space of time and just a little tiny speck in the whole universe. Helps me put things in perspective... like I'll be rushing out the door for a playdate for my kids, then lunch, followed by the oh-so-needed afternoon naps for them so I can work on other stuff - like blogging!
Scientists said that there will be another one next February.
By the way, if you are curious, I remembered the song was sang by Nicki French, and orginated by Bonnie Tyler. I think it was also sang by Air Supply?

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wah! you early bird! I just woke up!
And some early singing too :P

East Meets West Kitchen said...

Hi Tigerfish,
LOL! Yay! You're up! And you can recognized the song too? ;)

Padma said...

Wow, beautiful looking moon, I just saw a glimpse or two, with gloomy eyes while still lying in my bed...

KellytheCulinarian said...

I heard about the eclipse, but I really love sleep in an unnatural way. And I love that song too, who sang it?

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful sight.

East Meets West Kitchen said...

Hi Kelly,
I love sleep too, but it's a luxury these days. The song was sung by Nicki French, Bonnie Tyler and Air Supply? It was quite popular in Europe and Asia.

Hi Judy,
Thanks!

Hi Jackson,
Yes, it's just around the corner and time for sweet mooncakes again!

East Meets West Kitchen said...

Hi Padma,
Yes, it was quite a sight! So glad you caught a glimpse of it.

wonda said...

This forgetful boy of mine forgot that his "galaxy" crazy friend has told him to go to his house to watch it with a telescope for a better sight. By the time the news came on TV, he remembered it and it was too late. I also didn't know about it as I was too busy to keep track of the current affairs. Oh, I missed it. Anyway, only in certain parts of Japan are the sky clear enough to see it. Some went to a planetarium but was disappointed that they couldn't see it. Please remind me in February.

East Meets West Kitchen said...

Hi Alice,
So sorry you missed it! I will try to remember February's partial lunar eclipse, and will remind you if I do remember! :)

J@n!ce said...

Really nice capture. I missed it ;p

Janiceng SEO Traffic

Blur Mommy said...

wow, very beautiful!! U wake up very earlyhor? hehe...

Wandering Chopsticks said...

Is that your photo? So gorgeous. I woke up to read on the news that I missed the eclipse. :P

Home Cooking said...

I heard about this eclipse, but i prefer to sleep hahaha...
did u take the pic, beautiful moon.

East Meets West Kitchen said...

Hi J@nice,
Thanks, but I couldn't capture it with my little camera, so I uploaded the picture from the news.

Hi Blur Mommy,
Yes, I do! ;)

Hi Wandering Chopsticks,
No, I uploaded the picture as mine pictures showed a smaller moon.

Hi Isha,
Nope, picture was uploaded from the local news. I wish I had a camera that would capture the moon that nicely. :)

Cris said...

Beautiful... yeah, please remind us next time.

East Meets West Kitchen said...

Hey Cris,
LOL! I'll try! :)

IronEaters said...

i saw tt too =) a v interesting view indeed i feel.

East Meets West Kitchen said...

Hi Ironeaters,
Yes it was!