Was it the early AM hour?  Was it excitement about voting later in the day?  Whatever the reason, nearly 100 early risers came to Observatory Park at Turn Farm in Great Falls, VA to watch the lunar eclipse in the western sky.  On that clear November 8th morning, Alan Figgatt and Jeff Kretsch opened the gate for public viewing at 3:30AM.  A TV crew from WUSA channel 9 was expected, but due to other events, had to cancel at the last moment.

The lunar eclipse began at 4:09 AM and totality started at at 5:16 AM.  The  eclipse became difficult to see as civil twilght began brightening the sky an hour later.  By 6:20 AM the moon was blocked by trees on the western horizon.  Nevertheles, photographers had a ringside seat and took some great photos. They include Bill Burton, Jeff Kretsch, Kaushik Nagarkar, Dan Ward, and Christina T. Wenks. Scroll through the gallery below.  Other astronomical photographs from the Observatory can be found at:

http://www.analemma.org/index.php/gallery-menu/astronomical-gallery

Lunar Eclipse 2022-11-08