Photo and Article by Ottawa Centre member Gary Boyle.

On Wednesday Aug 28, 2007 as the residents of Ottawa begin to wake from their sleepy slumber for another day of work, a silent but marvelous event was slowly developing in the western sky. The scheduled total lunar eclipse began at 4:50 a.m. with the full moon dipping into the Earth's shadow. I was able (with special permission) to setup my camera equipment at the Britannia Yacht Club. I wanted this particular vantage point to catch the amber moonlight resting on the gently waves of the Ottawa River. Weather was picture perfect with a very clear sky and temperatures around 15 degrees C. With our natural satellite sinking closer to the horizon, the quiet and serene location and warm river breezes, made this event particularly memorable.

As time marched on the zone of darkness increase as if the moon were sliding into cosmic quicksand with the signature coral orange of refracted sunlight slowly changing the pastels of the normal moon's light grey colour.

After a short hour into the celestial hide and seek show, the moon had totally darkened but morning twilight was making observations difficult. I packed up at 5:55 a.m. knowing the rest of the country was fortunate to follow the moon's path, but I left my special place with memories of one of the most spectacular events I have seen.

Page last modified: September 6, 2007