Revealing the Penumbra

Once the images were captured, I moved them to my computer and converted the images to 16-bit TIFF format in RGB color mode using Adobe Photoshop 6.0. Basically, I wanted to use an image taken before first contact as a "before image" and overlay individual images taken during the eclipse and record the difference. The difference due to the encroaching penumbral shadow should show up when an image taken after first contact is subtracted from an image taken before first contact.

In Adobe Photoshop the "difference blend" mode was used to highlight the penumbral shading. The penumbral shading showed as brighter areas in Adobe Photoshop, while the unchanged areas of the Moon showed as dark areas. Click on image for a larger view.

Dave Weixelman

To do this, I loaded an image taken before first contact into Photoshop as a new layer and named this layer "before." I then opened an image taken after 1st contact as a new layer and named that image as "top layer." Once I had loaded both layers into Photoshop, I highlighted the top layer in the layers palette and then selected all the pixels in that layer by clicking on Select > All. I dragged the top image into the "before" image using the Move tool (while holding down the Shift key to help the files line up) so both images were now in a single document. With both images now in one document, I needed to fine tune their alignment and do the subtraction. With the top layer active, I changed the Blend Mode pop-up menu at the top of the Layers palette to Difference mode and looked at the results. In Difference mode, areas that appeared as solid black indicated where the active layer (top layer) and underlying layers were identical. Areas that appeared as shades of gray and color indicated areas that are different from what's below. I used the move tool to reposition the top layer until the image became as dark as possible (I used the arrow keys to nudge the image in the X-Y coordinates one pixel at a time). The top image was also repositioned by rotating the image in one-degree increments both clockwise and counterclockwise until the image became as dark as possible. In most cases, rotation of the top image resulted in no perceptible improvements in the amount of overlap between the two images.

These selected "difference" images from Adobe Photoshop show the gradual advancement of the penumbra across the face of the Moon. Each image is labeled with the time elapsed after first contact, the point at which the Moon first touched the Earth's penumbra. The first hint of penumbral shading occurred at 19 minutes after first contact. Click on image for the full view.

Dave Weixelman

After I had aligned the two images, I clicked on Layer > Flatten to save the difference layer. I then saved this image as a separate file in TIFF format. The saved image represented the difference between the "before" image and the subsequent image taken after first contact. This procedure was repeated for all images taken at 1-minute intervals afterward. In order to increase the contrast with the penumbra and the rest of the lunar image, contrast was increased in Photoshop by +40 for each image. I then converted the difference images to 8-bit color and then to grayscale. Finally, each image was inverted to show shadows as dark rather than lighted areas. In an inverted image, areas where there was no change in brightness appear as white.

Results from the difference images shows that the first visible penumbral shading occurred at 19 minutes after first contact . At this point, 24% of the Moon's diameter was immersed in the Earth's penumbral shadow. The value of 24% was derived by using the eclipse diagrams on the NASA website site authored by eclipse expert Fred Espenak. Using diagrams on this website, I placed an image of the Moon at the calculated position for 19 minutes after first contact and measured the fraction of the Moon's diameter covered by the penumbra at that point.

The Moon's path (from lower right to upper left) through the edge of Earth's shadow (adapted from S&T: October 2005, page 66). The Moon's position is shown at three stages: 1) when the penumbra was first detected using digital imagery; 2) when the penumbra was first detected with the unaided eye; and 3) an image at mid-eclipse. Click on image for a larger view.

Dave Weixelman

My first sighting of the penumbra with the unaided eye was not until 53 minutes after first contact-a full 34 minutes after the penumbral shading was detected using digital imagery. At this point, 64% of the Moon's diameter was immersed in Earth's penumbral shadow. Determining when you believe you see this darkening with the unaided eye is highly subjective and can vary greatly depending upon whether observations are made by telescope, binoculars or unaided eye. Further, visibility of the penumbra can vary at each eclipse because of conditions in Earth's atmosphere. I recorded the unaided eye sighting only after I was positive of the shading.

In addition to detecting the penumbral shadow, the digital images enhanced details in the penumbral shading. The images above show that the penumbral shading is uneven in brightness. For example, near the crater Tycho, in the lower left portion of the Moon, the penumbra is brighter. This is presumably due to the bright ray structure in the vicinity of this recently formed impact crater. Details in the penumbra such as the gradual darkening of the penumbra in the direction of the umbral shadow are well seen above.

Eclipses of the Moon are colorful and rewarding events to watch with the unaided eye. With the help of digital imagery, subtle events during eclipses of the Moon can be enhanced to show details beyond what the unaided eye can see. Using digital imagery, the penumbral shading during a lunar eclipse can be detected substantially earlier than with the unaided eye alone.