More than 120 persons gathered to observe the total lunar eclipse at Haya Cultural Center. Where JAS had announced about an observing night in the mass media. A representative of Reuters and Associated Press and other agencies attended the observation, and some of them made interviews with JAS members.

Although it was expected to witness a bright eclipsed Moon, but actually the Moon during the totality phase was NOT as bright as expected! The 1997 eclipse was much brighter. We couldn't see an orange color during this eclipse. Where the Moon was almost copper-brown. In addition, the eclipse was NOT symmetric, where the the Moon was dimmer during totality before mid eclipse than it was after the mid eclipse. For example, when the Moon had just entered the umbra (at the beginning of the eclipse) we could easily notice that every part enters the umbra disappears, WHILE after the mid eclipse the part of the Moon which is nearer to the penumbra (but still inside the umbra) was VERY clear with white color. That is, it was difficult to be convinced that this part of the Moon is being eclipsed right now! Moreover, this part of the Moon (the rim) had a bluish color, which was barely visible by naked eyes, while it was very distinguishable by binoculars and telescopes.

Estimations of the magnitude of the Moon during the totality were done by JAS members: Khalid Al-Tell, Moh'd Odeh, Sana'a Abdo, Emad Al-Ashi, Ja'afar Radaydah, Hani Al-Dalee', Waleed Abu Alia, Ahmad Niamat, and Nada Abanda.

The reversed binocular method was used to estimate the magnitude. Below you can find the raw data that we achieved. The time is in UT, followed by the estimated magnitude, then the reference star.

Observer: Sana' Abdo, using reversed 12X50 B.

• 19:50, 2.7, Theta Aur.
• 20:00, 3.3, Eta Aur.
• 20:10, 3.5, Delta Gem.
• 20:20, 3.8, Lambda Gem + Nu Gem.
• 20:30, 3.5, Delta Gem.
• 20:40, 3.4, Delta Gem + Eta Aur.
• 20:50, 3.0, Theta Aur + Eta Aur.

Observer: Mohammad Odeh, using reversed 7x50 B.

• 20:20, 2.5, Theta Aur. + Beta Aur.
• 20:30, 2.1, Beta Aur.
• 20:40, 1.6, Alpha Gem.
• 20:50, 1.0, Regulus + Alpha CMi

Observer: Hani Al-Dalee', using reversed 10x50 B.

• 19:50, 1.9, Gamma Gem.
• 20:00, 3.3, Eta Aur.
• 20:10, 3.5, Delta Gem.
• 20:20, 3.3, Eta Aur.
• 20:30, 3.1, Eta Aur. + Theta Aur.
• 20:40, 2.9, Eta Aur. + Theta Aur.
• 20:50, 2.7, Theta Aur.

Observer: Khalid Al-Tell, using reversed 7x35 B.

• 19:50, 2.1, Beta Aur.
• 20:00, 2.5, Theta Aur. + Beta Aur.
• 20:10, 2.7, Theta Aur.
• 20:20, 2.5, Theta Aur. + Beta Aur.
• 20:30, 2.5, Theta Aur. + Beta Aur.
• 20:40, 1.7, Alpha Gem. + Gamma Gem
• 20:50, 1.2, Alpha Gem. + Alpha CMi

Observer: Nada Abanda, using reversed 7x50 B.

• 19:50, 1.9, Gamma Gem.
• 20:00, 2.3, Theta Aur. + Beta Aur.
• 20:10, 2.7, Theta Aur.
• 20:20, 3.0, Theta Aur. + Eta Aur.

Observer: Emad Al-Ashi, using reversed 10x50 B.

• 19:50, 1.6, Alpha Gem.
• 20:00, 3.5, Delta Gem.
• 20:10, 1.6, Alpha Gem. (7X50 B)
• 20:20, ---, -------
• 20:30, 4.0, Nu Gem.
• 20:40, 3.5, Delta Gem.
• 20:50, 2.8, Theta Aur. + Eta Aur.

Observer: Ahmad Al-Niamat, using reversed 10x50 B.

• 19:50, 1.9, Gamma Gem.
• 20:00, 2.7, Theta Aur.
• 20:10, 3.6, Lambda Aur.
• 20:20, Too faint to be seen!
• 20:30, Too faint to be seen!
• 20:40, 2.7, Theta Aur.
• 20:50, 1.9, Gamma Gem.

Observer: Waleed Abu Alia, using reversed 10x50 B.

• 19:50, 1.9, Alpha Gem.
• 20:00, 3.5, Delta Gem.
• 20:10, 3.6, Lambda Gem.
• 20:20, 3.6, Lambda Gem.
• 20:30, 3.3, Eta Aur.
• 20:40, ---, ------
• 20:50, 2.7, Theta Aur.

• The previous magnitudes are not reduced. Theoretically, 7X50 B. should be reduced by ~ 4.3 mag. and 10X50 B. by ~ 5.0 mag., when comparing the Moon in the reversed B. with the view of stars with the naked eye. Adopting these values, the reduced lunar magnitude at mid eclipse is: Odeh (-1.8), Dalee' (-1.7), Abu Alia (-1.4), and Abanda (-1.3).

• The coordinates of our location are:-
  - Longitude: 35:54 E
  - Latitude: 31:58 N
  - Elevation: 920 m

The below photos were taken by Mohammad Odeh through 10" telescope during the totality. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Blue and Copper	Clear Blue!
Five-Second Exposure