I got up at "O-Dark 30" this morning, and took pictures of the Lunar Eclipse.  Its not often that these things happen when the combination of the moon being up, the skies clear, and the weather warm enough to enjoy it... so I took advantage of the situation I was handed... I'm VERY glad I did!

I took a flash shot, hoping some of the outline would allow the picture to show where I was... but the flash surprised me!

It was an awesome sight!  I set up around 1:15AM, and got ready for the show...

I have a Canon Digital Rebel, which is the digital version of the film version of the Rebel I had for quite a long time before.  I have a 500mm lens that is old and rickety (it rattles when you shake it), but it work well enough for what I use it for... stuff like tonight.

It wasn't long before the show got started...

 
I also have a 80-200 mm lens that I'd put on, for more of a  "Wide angle" view...

 
The moon slowly got darker and darker, as the earth's shadow overtook it.

Eventually, it got dark enough so that I could leave the shutter open long enough to see the reddish tint of the eclipsed moon.

 
It was an impressive site.

There was a slight breeze, and it was blowing my camera a bit... that, along with the lens not being a 'fancy' one, made the view a bit blurrier than I might have liked as the shutter speeds got slower in order to have enough light for the picture.

The stars were AWESOME - especially as the moon got dimmer.  I put in my wider angle lens, and took a picture...

 
As the moon was getting on toward its darkest, it began to set behind Rattlesnake Ridge, which I live at the foot of.

 
I watched it slip silently behind the ridge

 
It was a nice way to end the show, if you asked me.

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