This morning at about 2:30 am in the eastern US, we were treated to a very rare event. A total lunar eclipse that coincides with the Winter Solstice. How often can you be a part of something that has not happened in more than 300 years ago and will not happen again until 2094! The combination of a total lunar eclipse and the Winter Solstice means that the moon is very high in the sky, and is easy to observe and photograph.
Skies were perfect over New Jersey (except for the ever present light from cities and towns). The weather was clear and cold, but a little windy. The moon started into the Earth’s shadow around 1:30 am and was totally in the Earth’s shadow by 2:41am. The totality phase lasted about 72 minutes and then the moon started emerging from the shadow