June 16. Cellphone networks were kept busy last night as the red moon – the deepest and longest of the decade thus far – drew gasps from those who enjoyed the spectacle for about an hour last night . . . and quickly posted to their friends to share the excitement.
At a number of “red moon parties” last night, drinks were raised to the rare sight as the earth’s shadow extended across the moon and it slowly turned a beautiful coppery colour.
At the little soiree I attended there were comments about what the moon looked like at various stages: It was at one stage “very black . . . and a bit of a disappointment”; then it was “a bit like a top deck chocolate”: “then a bald man”, with a little halo round the crown; and finally the red moon appeared in all its splendour to silence the doubters . . . then it was just “wow”. We’d had a couple ice cold beverages by then, you understand.
A colleague in the Midlands commented that it was “too freezing out there” to enjoy the spectacle for too long. Shame, Durban really is the warmest place to be after all.
The Mercury newspaper has requested readers to post pictures to its Facebook page. Some great pictures already up on that page.
Find out what causes a red moon here.
Got any cool red moon pictures? Mail them to us here.
– Garth Johnstone