[APML] Lunar Eclipse from Lake Henshaw (near Mt. Palomar)

[B Yen <byen@ix.netcom.com>]

I have photos of the lunar eclipse at

http://www.comet-track.com/eclipse/lecl100/lecl100.html

The weather almost made this a bust for me.  There was a real strong
sub-tropical front going through..still can't believe I pulled it off.


I drove like a madman chasing holes in clouds...the thrill is in the
chase.    It took 5 hours, 30 gallons of gas..450 miles to get to the
"magic spot". (Took another 15 gallons, 250 miles to get back home. 
Almost ran out of gas, looking to re-fuel at Temecula.  fuel bill=$55).
My planned spot at Anza Borrego (3.5 hr drive) was a bust, CLOUDS. There
was a clear area to the west, so I started chasing towards Palomar.  It
reminded me of Nov. '93, where I did the lunar eclipse from Warner
Springs.  I actually passed that spot, but it was still a no-go.  After
~6 stop/get-out/check-the-sky, finally ended up at Lake Henshaw (below
Palomar MTn)..just before totality started.

 I got my G11 mount bore-scope aligned with Polaris (barely visible thru
some clouds.).  I got in a sequence of shots early totality..then clouds
came in.  Then it cleared, and I kept on shooting.  Totality was GREAT,
despite intermittent light-cloud interference.  I had some long
naked-eye looks, during the long wide-angle shots (unguided) I was
doing.  The ending partial phase was half-way done, when some serious
clouds wiped it out.  I remember seeing a HUGE moon dog just before this
(among some scattered clouds), it was more than HALF the sky!!  That was
an interesting sight.

 The eclipsed moon was brighter than in Nov '93. (only a few miles from
where I was for 2000).  Back then, I can still remember the REALLY dark
eclipsed moon, suspended near Taurus..and Orion..real EERIE.

 I drove back to LA, encountering light drizzle.  I was cooling
off..turned on the TV.  I was amazed to see that Griffith Park had a
similar scenario to mine..threatening clouds for partials, but totality
was clear (?).

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