Without a telescope, nor any other form of advanced optics, I wasn't ready to miss something that I wouldn't get to see for another 80 years. Hype aside, it is after all just a lunar eclipse, but a rare one as it overlaps the 2010 winter solstice. Chances are I'll be making better lawn fertilizer than a trader/writer the next time this opportunity rolls around, so this is my best attempt to capture the action.

I'm working from a remote location today and was lucky enough to have some clear skies, considering much of the rest of the country is either covered in a blanket of snow or getting doused with rain right now.

Taken with a Canon Rebel T2i with nothing more than a kit lens (18-55mm), but all I can say is that it looked a lot better in person:

And here is, unquestionably, a much better slideshow: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/20/lunar-eclipse-tonight-201_n_798912.html#s211651

In related news…..

….astrology traders go insane with excitement. Sure enough, another very rare event has been announced today….China pledges to take “Concrete Action” to help Europe. Here's the related article: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-21/euro-rises-as-china-s-wang-pledges-to-help-eu-with-debt-crisis-yen-gains.html

My assumption would be that this is a bit rarer than an 80-year event, but just a hunch.

But wait, there's more: Once again, Moody's comes along and pulls yet another “party foul”….placing Portugal's ratings on review for a possible downgrade, and EUR takes a temporary hit. Talk about a bunch of negative Nancys. Related: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTOE6BJ06Q20101221

Careful out there – this is an event driven market today….pay attention, listen/read/be on your toes and all the best,

Steve