The Blood Moon Eclipse from the Pontypool Folly

The Blood Moon Eclipse

 I wasn't planning to go out this evening for the eclipse, as the weather forecast was not promising.  For most of the day, there had been heavy rain showers, but by 6.45 pm, it was starting to dry up. I was sitting on the sofa, chilling, watching Sky News, and then I saw the info screen about the eclipse.

I looked out the window and noticed quite a lot of blue sky.  I could not control my impulses and went and grabbed my Nikon D850 and Sigma C 150-600mm lens and jumped in the car.

The Moon was expected to start rising from the eastern horizon at about 7.15 pm. After some deliberation, I headed up to the Blorenge.

As I approached Blaenavon, the skies were starting to get greyer by the minute, and a lot of cloud was sweeping in from the North West - not good, I thought.

On arrival at the Foxhunters car park up the Blorenge, it was very busy. The car park was full and there were a lot of people staring eastwards. 

Rob from Blaenavon Camera Club at the Foxhunters Car Park.

I found a place to park and took a look for myself. It was now 7.30 pm and there was no sign of the moon. One of the photographers I was speaking with told me he used a mobile app to scan the sky, and he showed me exactly where the moon should be. Unfortunately, it was behind a big, thick band of cloud.

I had a chat with one of my friends, named Rob, for a while and then decided to head back home, not having the patience to wait any longer in the chilly wind.

As I was driving through the outskirts of Pontypool, I looked up and suddenly there was the Moon. It was a bright orange colour and it was showing through a gap in the clouds. Even with that brief view I had, as I was driving, I saw that it was about 50% eclipsed.

I made a split-second decision and changed my planned course home to the Folly.

Moments later, I arrived at the Folly and discovered I was not the only one up there. Several cars were parked up, and excited people were gazing up at the Moon in eclipse.

Pontypool Folly.

I had made it just in time as more clouds were threatening to move in and obscure my view.

Fortunately, the gap in the clouds remained a while longer, and I was able to snap off a few pictures with my Nikon camera and mobile phone.

The Science Behind the Blood Moon Eclipse

Blood Moon is a type of lunar eclipse, but with a twist. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow upon the lunar surface. Typically, we see the Moon take on a dim, greyish hue during this event.

However, when the Earth’s atmosphere scatters sunlight, it causes the shorter wavelengths—like blue and violet light—to be diffused, allowing only the longer wavelengths—reds and oranges—to reach the Moon. This is what gives the eclipse its signature red or "blood" tint.