Just entering toality. The red colour is the light from a ring of sunsets around the circumference of the Earth falling on the face of the Moon
The totally eclipsed Moon bears ove the residential area at Henley Beach
Tatally eclipsed Moon over the Henley Pub
The end of the partial phase 21:52 CST
This sequence shows the appearance of Venus on July 10, 20 and August 6. As it moves between the Earth and Sun waning to a slender crescent increasing size as it gets nearer. On the evening of the last frame I could just make out the crescent in 10x50 binoculars. (Click on image to enlarge). ETX90-EC & Vivitar compact digital.
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Later in the Evening, at low elevation just above the horizon before setting, the light of Venus is spread out into a rainbow of rippling colours. Its light is dispersed by thicker layers of our atmosphere that acts rather like a turbulent prism. Maximum digital zoom. ETX90-EC & Vivitar compact digital.
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Birth of Venus (Aphrodite) is depicted here emerging from the ocean "foam" in this 1879 rendition by William Bougereau (click to enlarge).
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The changing phases of Venus are due to its perspective as seen from Earth as it orbits the Sun. It completes a cycle of phases in about 584 days (19 months). Venus reaches inferior conjunction on August 18 (closest to Earth) when it crosses to the morning sky and the sequence of phases will reverse. On rare occasions Venus will pass in front of the Sun as a Venus transit. http://members.ozemail.com.au/~mlewicki/venustranasit04.html
At superior conjunction it is on the far side of the Sun, appearing very much smaller with the full disk illuminated.
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This is my setup. The Vivitar 3930 camera mounted on a bracket to the Meade ETX90-EC telescope (9cm/3.5"). Planetary photography like you see here is made easier with digital cameras and electronics. You just keep adjusting the exposure settings until you get good shots. The telescope has remote control to reduce shaking from handling and the camera has delay exposure to allow vibrations to subside before exposure. This kind of planetary photography with a small telescope and compact camera would have been almost impossible with film and manual telescope controls.
Moon setting. The Moon reddens and distorts as its light passes through thickening layers of our atmosphere.
At the last frame only the "dark side" remains before finally disappearing. [Pentax K100D 200mm]
