2006/03/30

Dear All,

This has been a month of eclipses, but first, the Moon was seen clearly tonight from Israel (Thursday 30^th March 2006). Magdi Shameul saw it from Beit Ezra at 17:58 and Eli Shmeul saw it at 18:03 in clear skies. I saw it from Maale Adumim through thin clouds starting at 18:11 (UTC+2), Rina Hoffman at 18:14 and Beila Stein at 18:15. From Shoresh, the Moon was seen at 18:17 by Rick and Angie Andrews, Bill and Marsha Hastings and Brian Convery through thin clouds. From Ramot Eskol, Jerusalem, Lynn Kirby saw the Moon at 18:10, Daryl Kirby at 18:11, Tony Steel at 18:12 and Woody Meilak at 18:13 through thin clouds. From the Old City, Jerusalem, the Moon was seen by Lee Ware and Rivka Alon at 18:09 and Nehemia Gordon at 18:10 through thin clouds.

The New Moon as seen from Maale Adumim at 2006/03/30 18:34 (UTC+2)

Yesterday, an 85% partial eclipse of the Sun was observed from Israel. This is the deepest partial eclipse in Israel for several years and will not be as deep again for over 20 years.

The Sun as seen from Jerusalem at 2006/03/29 12:56 (UTC+2)

The eclipse caused a noticeable darkening. Below is a combination of two photographs at the same exposure, on the left after the eclipse and on the right at mid-eclipse.

Comparison of light with and without the eclipse

At least two of our members traveled to Turkey to see the total eclipse.

Total eclipse of the Sun as seen from Turkey 2006/03/29 11:55 (UTC+1)

Courtesy NASA TV

Two weeks ago there was a penumbral lunar eclipse. This causes a slight darkening of the Moon because the Earth partially obscures the Sun. In the picture below, the Moon at the center is before the eclipse, on the right at mid eclipse at the same exposure and on the left, normalized to the uneclipsed Moon. To the eye, the effect is less marked and difficult to see because the Moon is so bright compared with the background sky. There will be a total lunar eclipse visible from Israel next year.

Penumbral lunar eclipse on 2006/03/15 01:48 (UTC+2)

Next month's New Moon will probably be visible on Friday 28^th April 2006 from Israel and most of the World. From India it will be very marginal and it will not be visible till the next day in South Africa and Australia. This is the first time in a decade that the New Moon might be seen to tilt to the left. If the Moon is not seen on 28^th, then please try the next day. No report will be issued till after Shabbat.

Yours,

Roy.

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