2Sep 07
“When I consider…the moon”
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Brrrrriiinnngg! Beep,beep,beep,beep! Internal and external alarm clocks began their barrage at 4:30am. Several bleary eyed, smiling people tip,toed out of bed, proceeded downstairs and out to the post of observation. Why, you may ask, would one forgo sleep after going to bed at the late hour of 10:30? An event seen all too little was about to occur.
Sunday afternoon (two days prior), young Colin, from church excited us all when he told of an event happening this week that transpires usually only once or twice a year. Anticipation built when Grandma 
called Monday afternoon with the final details on what was to be the total eclipse of our moon between 4:50 and 6:15am the following morning.
A Lunar Eclipse occurs when the earth completely hides the moon from direct rays of sunlight. One’s first thought may be that this would make the moon appear completely black; however, the atmosphere around the earth 
contains water. As the sun shines upon the earth, rays of light are caught and bent within the earth’s atmosphere (water) and sent around the earth where they reflect off the moon. This gives the moon an appearance of maroon, orange, or yellow during the eclipse.
From where Virginia is located, this particular eclipse was not completely visible. 
The Lord did answer our prayer by moving the clouds away from the moon so we could watch a portion of the eclipse before the sun began to rise.
The next total eclipse will take place on February 21, 2008. For more fascinating pictures and information on lunar eclipses, visit MrEclipse.com.
As we watched the eclipse that morning, Dad brought up several reminders of how great our God is. The precise line up of heavenly bodies thousands of miles apart emitting such intrinsic and intricate beauty shouts aloud for the glory of God. We serve a big God, yet He knows each one of His chosen intimately and has a specific, divine plan for each. Wow – Praise the Lord!
“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” Psalms 8:3-4
Wow! I didn’t even have the shadow of an idea that an event of such astronomical proportions was taking place while I was sound asleep. What a neat experience to get out and observe the wonders of God’s creation! =)
How beautiful! Colin is such a wonderful source of information!
I am so glad the Wilkes Team was able to enjoy this spectacular event! Beautiful pictures by the way. Who is the photographer taking all the fantastic photos lately?
Well thankfully I had two weather forecasters to depend upon or else I’d probably of ‘been in the dark’ as well, Robert.
The photographers have been primarily Jennifer & Daniel. Dad’s delight in capturing the beauties of creation with camera has certainly passed on to them. I really appreciate their efforts!
One more thing, the eclipse was seen with more clarity and entirety out West. Our photos only capture a portion of what was seen out that way. If you go here, you can obtain some remarkable photos of the complete eclipse. Amazing!!
I just have to say “Amen!” and reecho that the heavens do indeed “declare the glory of God”. From here in the Northwoods of the Upper Penninsula of Michigan, one gazes up into the beautiful night sky and is suddenly struck with the immensity of a brilliant dome packed full with thousands upon thousands of visible stars!
Amen, Amen! From here in Taiwan we had the luxury of viewing it soon after sunset: between 6:30 and 7:00. The color was the same. I am not sure how but my teacher-gifted teammate Nathan Straub from Washington found out about the eclipse just before it happened and even though we were in the city we found a way to reach the roof of our hotel and view it together from there. “Intrinsic and intricate beauty” indeed as we view the moon in a whole new light!