To go or not to go! With a friend or without! How to Photograph?

What is the story? - It is all about a
“Total Lunar Eclipse" that was occurring early on 12/21/10 to coincide with the winter solstice.
This had not happened since 1688.
One friend had a bad cold. Another felt it was too cold.
So after trolling the internet, I found that the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York was welcoming people to come to Columbia University to see this historic event.
Taking a 2 hour nap from 10 p.m. to 12 I dressed for the occasion - grabbed my camera with telephoto lens and my tripod and taxied to 116th Street and Broadway.
Arriving at the quiet vacant campus I was greeted by a security guard.
Awaiting the event I was welcomed by various members, students  and professors of the Columbia University Astronomy Club.
As we chatted we occasionally looked to the sky in a slightly south west direction to start.
The sky was clear and the moon appeared to be hanging out there suspended as if one could reach out and pluck it.
A smudge started to cross the bright white moon. It had begun. darker, darker, dark. an orange glow and then a fading out mainly because of clouds moving in.

One's breath was taken away from the cold air, from the eclipse, from life and being able to see it.
We were fortunate In NYC - In NJ they had clouds.
A reminder of the wonderful city we live in where nobody sleeps.