While watching the Lunar eclipse tonight in NY, I was thinking that it would be a great sight to see in, say, Venice? or Paris?
What events/sights , of this sort, have you seen or watched when traveling?
Did it make that trip much more memorable?
Would it have been that big a deal if you had seen it at home?

Oh lucky you, Scarlett. It's pouring out here in the SF Bay Area, so no eclipse for us. The moon was full when we were in Venice two years ago. Absolutely magical as the mist passed before it.

The lunar eclipse was pretty awesome here in Alexandria, VA, but it still doesn't hold a candle to the night of shooting stars we once witnessed in the Dordogne, especially since there was no advertising ahead of time for the latter. They just kept falling out of the sky like natural fireworks - THAT was a jaw dropper!

The lunar eclipse was very prominent here in northern Wisconsin, where it is a very chilly 17 degrees. As for astronomical experiences while traveling, I would have to say that the Northern Lights in Iceland were pretty awesome.

I saw Haley's Comet from San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja. We turned off the lights on the boat and since there was no town for many miles in any direction, there was no other light but the stars and the comet.

Flyboy, I would love to see the Northern Lights but since I'm not fond of cold weather, I wonder if I ever will.

When you fly to Europe overnight and your flight plan arcs across the North Atlantic, choose a window seat on the left side of the plane as you face forward. You may get lucky and be able to catch the Aurora Borealis from the climate controlled comfort of your seat. I've caught it a couple of times that way, but there are never any guarantees. I'm guessing that with the recent solar storm, there have probably been some nice displays of late.

While driving away from the grand canyon on a moonless night I happened to look up and saw a sky like I had never seen before; although it was pitch black all around me, the sky was lit up by what appeared to be miliions of the brightest stars imaginable....

I think watching a dramatic moon rise is a function of where you are.
I recall two that were magical.
Once we were camping in the high Rockies, well up in the San Juan Range of Colorado, when the moon rose about 11 PM. The sky was clear as crystal.
A mountain peak was between us and the moon itself, so we were in its shadow.
But we could see the glow of the rising moon and the whole valley around us was illuminated. Suddenly the moon got above the intervening peak and the whole area came alive in the moonlight.

The second time was in the Lauterbrunnen Valley of Switzerland.
We watched the sun set and turn the Jungfrau pink. As the sun set and its light faded, the moon rose and changed the pink to silver. The peak of the Jungfrau was dramatically backlit with a beautiful glow. I never saw anthing quite like it.

Hi Scarlett,

Interesting topic.

I am a fan of sunrises, which at home are nothing to write about.

I recently watched the sun rise from Praiano, Italy as it turned the mountains of the Amalfi coast a beautiful pink.

Another great place for sunrises is the mountains of Arizona. For a minute or so the whole world turns to gold.

I was just in Istanbul at the beginning of Ramazan. A Turkish friend and I were coming out of the metro in Taksim and there was the crescent moon associated with the beginning of Ramazan. (Not a lunar eclipse but still really beautiful standing in Taksim square - buses and taxis going by)

I do want to make a trip back to Istanbul during a full moon - the moon cast the Bosphorus as a silver path between Europe and Asia - the Turks call this mehtap.

Scarlett- do you remember when Haley Bop was visible from NYC - people stopped on corners pointing and staring at a comet suspended above our city. Really beautiful.

Interesting thread, Scarlett.

On our last night in Venice, we enjoyed a glowing full moon over the quiet city from our rooftop terrace, while sipping a glass of wine. We were quite "moonstruck" and it was awesome.

Thank you all so much! These are really great stories!
Yes, mark, I think I do remember Haley Bop
I would love to see the Northern Lights!
Statia, that is where I imagined a full moon would be outstanding!
StCirq, the only time I remember being able to fully appreciate a meteor shower was on the bay off of Long Island NY one summer with the stars falling 'into the water all around us', or so it seemed. An amazing sight.
Betsy, it will happen again next October, so you have another chance for it not to rain
On one of our visits to Paris, walking past the Louvre at night, with the Eiffel Tower to our right and the Louvre to the left, we looked up and there was the moon, shining away. It was impossible to take a photograph, I had to stand there and look at it for a long time, to imprint it firmly in my mind..It was wonderful and I think a different moon than the one we usually see here at home

Keep the stories coming, please

Scarlett, the meteor showers seen from where we live can be really awesome. When we know one is going to happen, we set our alarm to get up in the middle of the night, and take a thermos of coffee and our reclining lawn chairs out to a pitch black area overlooking a cliff on the island.

We really have a spectaular view for the showers there. I've nearly run from the meteors at times because they seemed so close and bright, it was as if they were going to hit me! It can be really awesome.

On the 'things that took your breath away" thread - someone mention about hiking through the Swiss Alps during the Leonid shower (which has always captured my imagination, as have the northern lights too).

Last year walking around Prague under a full moon was very atmospheric. And I remember being in Budapest under a blood red moon - can't remember what phase it was in though.

I do take into account the phase of the moon when planning my trips - if i can nudge my trip to include a full moon I do.

Statia - which island?

We once stayed at a BnB that was on a south facing cliff in West Looe in Cornwall. That evening the rising moon shone and was reflected by a perfectly still sea directly into our room. The next morning we awoke to a sunrise of pink/orange rays lighting cumulus clouds.

Mrket: St. Eustatius, Dutch West Indies

A few years ago on an overnight flight from North America to Europe I saw a beautiful phenomenon just before sunrise. We were far north over the Baffin Bay area and the horizon to the north started shifting through all the colors of the spectrum. It was like flying by a giant prism and each color held for about 15 seconds before morphing into the next (ROYGBIV) on the spectrum. These were absolultely the most vivid, saturated colors I've ever experienced seeing. I was glad I was restless that night and was staring out the window - never got the chance to ask the pilot about it when we landed. I attributed it to the orb of the sun being just below the visible horizon with its approaching rays of light being bent through ice crystals in the frigid atmosphere. Maybe it was the "flash of green" phenomenon I've heard about.

Blake, I think you saw a "moonbow," which is rare. I have only seen them once the stream of color has morphed to white, but my husband has seen what you are talking about. What an experience for you!

BTW - A "green flash" takes place just as the sun sets over the ocean. Right as it hits the horizon. Luckily, I've been fortunate to see many.

Mrkt: Your experience in Budapest sounds fabulous.

There are so many great stories in this thread. Keep them coming. Thanks to Scarlett.

I recall standing on a boat in the Galapagos within a few degrees of the equator and watching the sun set in the west. We then turned exactly 180 degrees and watched the full moon rise due east of our position. The minute or two between sunset and moonrise was suspensful, in spite of the fact that this was an occurence that has taken pllace on a daily basis from the beginning of time. The combination of being at sea, on the Equator and with a 360 degree horizon along with the fact that I got to share this with my family made this a memorable event.

Not that this makes any difference to your viewing pleasure, but the name of the very bright comet was Hale-Bopp, and it was prominent in the evening sky in March to May of 1997.
The year before that - in 1996 - Comet Hyakutake - with a very long blue tail - was visible almost overhead near the constellation Little Dipper (=Ursa Minor).
Halley's Comet last appeared in 1986 and was a disappointment, it never got really bright and you had to know where to look otherwise you'd never find it.

By the way Marilyn - it doesn't have to be cold to see the Northern Lights (also known as Aurora Borealis ), it all depend on how active the sun is, and a clear sky in the evening. Spring and fall seem to be the best times, and the further north you go, the better your chances. Lately the sun has been extremely active, so if you live in the northern part of the US you may be able to see them if you make a point of looking at the sky after sunset.

Unfortunately, most of our cities spew so much light upwards toward the sky, that we who live in them hardly ever get to see the lovely sights of the night sky.