Lunar Eclipse and Summer Solstice

Well it was a lunar eclipse with a full moon on the 21st December and the summer solstice on the 22nd December- what an amazing sequence of events! Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth gets between the sun and the moon, so the moon is effectively cast in the earths shadow. Brisbane was supposed to see the full eclipse while Melbournites could expect 20mins of a partial eclipse. In the Northern Hemisphere this eclipse coincided with the Winter Solstice for the first time in 372 years!

Depending on the amount of dust in the Earth's atmosphere, the moon could have been seen in colours ranging from copper, to rose to blood red in colour. Unfortunately there was cloud in Melbourne, so I did not get to see. Here is a great pic from Canberra though! :)



Image: Tim Hughes
The lunar eclipse appears over the horizon at Macgregor in Canberra on December 21, 2010.

Some meanings in mythology:

* According to Mayan folklore, the moon is devoured by a jaguar.
* In the Chinese tradition it is a three legged toad that swallows the moon.
* In Hindu mythology, it is Rahu (in the form of a snake) that swallows the sun or the moon causing eclipses.
* In Norse mythology, Hati was a wolf that chased Mani, the moon, through the sky and a lunar eclipse was a sign that he was close to succeeding.
* According to Philippine Mythology- the Bakonawa appears as a gigantic serpent that lives in the sea. It was this Bakanawa who was believed to cause the moon or the sun to disappear during an eclipse

Well I hope you had better luck in seeing the eclipse than me and a happy summer solstice to you too. It is a time to enjoy nature, a time of spiritual renewal and a time to celebrate the sun, family and love. So may the long days and short nights be something you enjoy!

Peace and light

Bri