Early last night, needing a break from working on the Lord of the Little Burro blog post, I wandered out onto the terrace to check out the full moon rising over the city. The night was clear, La Luna was brilliant, and she was going to be putting on quite a show in 6+ hours — a lunar eclipse.
April 14, 2014 – 7:21 PM (CDT)
There was no way I could stay up until then, though I did have fleeting thoughts of setting my alarm. When bedtime came, I decided to leave it up to the fates or Semana Santa cohetes and church bells, though I did leave the Canon on her tripod, just in case. The fates had it (probably because I didn’t eat dinner until 9:00 PM); I awoke around 2:00 AM, got up, took the camera out on the terrace, and looked up. There was La Luna dressed as the Blood Red Queen.
April 15, 2014 – 2:20 AM (CDT)
That little spec below and to the right of the moon is Spica, the brightest star in the Virgo constellation. It’s extra visible because of the eclipse. In addition, about 10 degrees west of the moon, an even tinier reddish spec could also be seen (though not in this photo) — Mars came to the party, too! And, if this weren’t enough lunacy for one night, I happened to remember, earlier in the day it looked like one of the blossoms on my Night Blooming Cereus might be ready to bloom. Sure enough…
April 15, 2014 – 3:05 AM (CDT)
What a spectacular night! Though, how I made it to my 9:00 AM breakfast appointment, I’ll never know. Definitely, early to bed tonight.
Mexican Peso Converter
View From Casita Colibrí 
Beautiful.
¡Muchisimas gracias y hasta pronto!
A night full of natural wonder!
I love that it’s something half the world can share.
Oh, how lovely! It was invisible from here — clouds and rain. We’ll try again in October.
Offerings to the weather gods and goddesses it is clear for you in October!
Great photos, Shannon. I am so glad I set my alarm -our sky was so clear. I’ve seen that night bloom here in Mexico. Beautiful, all, not to mention a very productive breakfast meeting!
Love looking at the night sky from Teotitlán! We found section 5 yesterday and had great fun. Hope you had the opportunity to stop by the Municipio for the baile de los viejitos.
Blood moon over Portland too. On a clear night.
Hurray, a clear night in Portland! Next one is in October.
[…] Yikes, one of my Pitahaya (Hylocereus undatus – aka, Passion fruit) had bloomed overnight! Must be a relative of my other Night Blooming Cereus. […]
[…] The azucena is a variety of tuberose and its name is familiar in Oaxaca. A popular boutique hotel near Casita Colibrí and a well-known restaurant at the entrance to San Martín Tilcajete are both namesakes. This must be a special flower. It is! A few evenings ago, I went out onto the terrace to soak in the view, as lights came on in the city, and discovered azucenas blooming in an old planter box on the terrace wall. Another night bloomer joins my pitahaya and night-blooming cereus. […]