Lunar Eclipse

Eclipse Feb 2008
Originally uploaded by A new opportunity of life / Arturo Andrade

I thought we'd miss it -- the high probability of cloudy skies, plus we had a 7:30 theater curtain, and by the time we parked and all... But then Jer suggested leaving a bit early so we could get a bite to eat before the play, and we ended up at PCS a few minutes before 7. There was a small crowd at the corner, which turned out to be, mostly, a photography class from the Portland Art Institute, across the street from the theater. The view from there was perfect. I hung out while Jer went inside, ordered a sandwich and brought back a glass of red wine to share. We watched through totality.

Note: This isn't my shot. The photo credit imported with Flickr's "Blog This" doesn't show up in all browsers, apparently. It was originally uploaded by A new opportunity of life / Arturo Andrade as Eclipse Feb 2008

The last lunar eclipse I recall seeing was during our time at Sea Ranch, where someone set up a huge telescope at the end of their cul de sac. The sky was a lot darker there, and the orange glow more brilliant. But the terra cotta disk juxtaposed against the brickwork of the old Armory was quite a picture; I hope some of the students thought to include a slice of the building, for context.

There's a primitive and, to me, deeply satisfying charge in the fact that people will still stop on the street to marvel at something gone strange in the cosmos.