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| Clouds: 122mm, 0.3 sec, f9, ISO100 Moon: 1/25 sec... |
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| 86mm, 0.4 sec, f9, ISO100 Moon: 1/25 sec... |
Showing posts with label Full Moon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Full Moon. Show all posts
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Psychedelic Beaver Moon
Tonight's full Moon goes by many names (as all the full Moons do) but it's more commonly called the Beaver Moon. I was vegging out watching The (original) Karate Kid with my daughter, who sings right along to all the terrible 80's jams, when a friend called me to tell me about the crazy sky action. I went out to see high altitude cirrus clouds creating a gorgeous 22 degree halo around the full Moon. This effect is caused by ice crystals in the thin clouds refracting the moonlight (more info here). Sometimes you'll see it as just a thin ring around the moon in the clear sky but when the clouds are a bit thicker the colors really pop. It was pretty dramatic tonight.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Meh-clipse...
On Friday night (10/18/13) at approx 7:50pm EST, the outer blurry edge of Earth's shadow briefly (and very slightly) darkened the lower limb (visible edge) of the Moon. I tried to explain to folks that this is probably not an event worthy of excitement unless you are an uber-astro nerd but there seemed to be a lot of disappointed outcry out there afterward.
To explain, this was a Partial Penumbral Eclipse. A Total Penumbral Eclipse would only dim the entire surface of the Moon because only the fuzzy outer edge of the Earth's shadow (the penumbra) is blocking the Sun. You don't get that eerie dark red appearance that a total lunar eclipse gives.
So this Partial Penumbral Eclipse was so slight that only folks that stare at the Moon on a regular basis could even notice and only cameras and telescopes would really be able to see a noticeable difference from the normal full Moon.
Here's a photo I took during the peak eclipse coverage. This is a stacked image of 105 frames, processed in RegiStax6. Notice the light shadow on the lower right limb? Yup, that would be the full extent of the action.
Definitely mark your calendars for the next FULL lunar eclipse on April 15, 2014.
To explain, this was a Partial Penumbral Eclipse. A Total Penumbral Eclipse would only dim the entire surface of the Moon because only the fuzzy outer edge of the Earth's shadow (the penumbra) is blocking the Sun. You don't get that eerie dark red appearance that a total lunar eclipse gives.
So this Partial Penumbral Eclipse was so slight that only folks that stare at the Moon on a regular basis could even notice and only cameras and telescopes would really be able to see a noticeable difference from the normal full Moon.
Here's a photo I took during the peak eclipse coverage. This is a stacked image of 105 frames, processed in RegiStax6. Notice the light shadow on the lower right limb? Yup, that would be the full extent of the action.
Definitely mark your calendars for the next FULL lunar eclipse on April 15, 2014.
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| 105 frames, 1/80 sec, f8, ISO100 |
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Beaver Moon
Well, it's been a while, folks. I've been observing and learning all the while but the photography has suffered. Struggles with focusing and failing hardware have made it a challenge. My little D90 is nearing (or already surpassed) it's average lifespan. Blah blah, excuses excuses.
Tonight (11/28/12) is a rare treat as Jupiter is snuggling up close to the full "Beaver" Moon. Jupiter is nearing opposition on 12/3 where it will be at it's closest position to the Earth for almost a decade. The Great Red Spot will be swinging into view during that time as well. So it's a great time to grab any telephoto lens, binoculars, or scope and check it out.
I stepped out to check the sky this evening and with luck the clouds were breaking up. They stayed partly cloudy for about 15 min. Just enough time to snap of these shots before my lens fogged up completley. Always prep your gear for temperature. In winter, I recommend placing your camera bag somewhere equal (or near) to the outside temperature, like a shed, sunporch, or garage for a few hours before heading out. If not your glass is going to fog up...no bueno. When returning home, it's just as important (if not more so) to slowly bring your gear back up to room temp and placing it in a sealed bag to reduce condensation while doing so.
Enjoy my impromptu robe-wearing driveway astrophotography:
Tonight (11/28/12) is a rare treat as Jupiter is snuggling up close to the full "Beaver" Moon. Jupiter is nearing opposition on 12/3 where it will be at it's closest position to the Earth for almost a decade. The Great Red Spot will be swinging into view during that time as well. So it's a great time to grab any telephoto lens, binoculars, or scope and check it out.
I stepped out to check the sky this evening and with luck the clouds were breaking up. They stayed partly cloudy for about 15 min. Just enough time to snap of these shots before my lens fogged up completley. Always prep your gear for temperature. In winter, I recommend placing your camera bag somewhere equal (or near) to the outside temperature, like a shed, sunporch, or garage for a few hours before heading out. If not your glass is going to fog up...no bueno. When returning home, it's just as important (if not more so) to slowly bring your gear back up to room temp and placing it in a sealed bag to reduce condensation while doing so.
Enjoy my impromptu robe-wearing driveway astrophotography:
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| f9, 1sec, ISO400 |
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| f8, 3sec, ISO320 |
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| f8, 1sec, ISO320 |
Monday, May 14, 2012
Supermoon, Sun rings, and Sunspots...Oh my!
I have had zero time to sit down and put some words with some pictures here (I actually don't really have the time right now) but things are getting backed up so I must play some catch up here.
Lets start with last week's so-called "Supermoon!". Not to burst anyone's bubble but it was just another full moon. However, the full moon is always a beautiful sight so anything that gets regular folks interested in looking up at the night sky, histerical claims or not, I'm all for it! So, no massive earthquakes or tidal waves, just a perigee moon slightly bigger than normal. I went out and shot it with my little future astrophysicist.
This one was fun. "oooh, so close...to the right, no left... good,now up, little more...leeetle more, ooh perfect! Now look at me...and freeze" She's very patient sometimes.
On May 12th (My mother's birthday) there was an interesting show in the daytime sky. A 22 degree halo or a "neat rainbow ring around the Sun" that lasted hours into the afternoon. This allowed for some interesting distractions from my yard work.
It's a good idea to block the full midday Sun from your eye as well as your camera's sensor.
Lets start with last week's so-called "Supermoon!". Not to burst anyone's bubble but it was just another full moon. However, the full moon is always a beautiful sight so anything that gets regular folks interested in looking up at the night sky, histerical claims or not, I'm all for it! So, no massive earthquakes or tidal waves, just a perigee moon slightly bigger than normal. I went out and shot it with my little future astrophysicist.
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| 240mm, f10, 1/10, ISO100 |
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| 135mm, f4.2, 1/25, ISO1250 |
On May 12th (My mother's birthday) there was an interesting show in the daytime sky. A 22 degree halo or a "neat rainbow ring around the Sun" that lasted hours into the afternoon. This allowed for some interesting distractions from my yard work.
This first one is a shot I took advantage of and framed for my Mother's day present.
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| 18mm, f10, 1/400, ISO100 |
It's a good idea to block the full midday Sun from your eye as well as your camera's sensor.
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| 18mm, f10,1/400, ISO100 |
As I was pointing my camera at the Sun I thought about the upcoming Venus transit (June 5th) and how I still haven't totally worked out how I'm going to shoot it (luckily it occurs at sunset so the full onslaught of solar rays won't be so harsh). I ran inside to see what I could dig out. I grabbed my ND400 filter and decided to go for it.
To gain some perspective on this region, our entire world easily fits inside that darker area in the middle of AR 1476, with room to spare.
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| ND400, 300mm, f14, 1/4000, ISO100 |
This hand held shot above clearly shows the large current active sunspot region 1476 along with other active regions. This set up should definitely give me good results for shooting the Venus transit. I'm planning on shooting from Presque Isle (Erie, PA) weather permitting (please permit!!). This will occur again in 2117, so you can wait if you want...I don't plan on seeing that one.
The skies are clearing and this week looks very astronomically promising. Sagittarius is rising earlier and earlier as summer nears so I plan on trying a Milky Way rise time lapse in the near future. And of course I'll be posting the rapidly approaching Venus transit. Stay tuned.
Clear skies!
The skies are clearing and this week looks very astronomically promising. Sagittarius is rising earlier and earlier as summer nears so I plan on trying a Milky Way rise time lapse in the near future. And of course I'll be posting the rapidly approaching Venus transit. Stay tuned.
Clear skies!
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Full moon observing
Observing during a full moon? Why bother, right?
Well... I bothered. The sky was too clear to avoid.
With my D90 fitted with a beautiful (thank you Jim) William Optics Gran Turismo 81mm f9 (478mm FL) and mounted on the Meade RCX 400, I shot the Moon, Beehive Cluster (M44), M38 (in Auriga), and M13 (Great Globular Cluster in Hercules).
It was obviously a challenge to get anything worth showing due to the full moon washing out the entire sky, but I gave it a go anyway. The practice of operating the big scope, finding different objects, working on focus and processing was well worth the time and effort even if viewing was poor.
I'm getting much better at processing in DeepSkyStacker and finally figured out Registax6! Like I stated before, the problem was me, I'd suggest actually reading the tutorials and manuals online, it helps. My problem was that my files were just too big. I created a PhotoShop action to quickly run my RAW images through converting them to 2000x2000px BMP files and BINGO it works like a dream. All images were also processed in Photoshop CS5 after stacking, just contrast and sharpening adjustments.
Here's last night's "Pink" Moon (no, it's not actually pink. That's just the name for April's full Moon).
And the Beehive Cluster, M44.
And M38 with it's tiny neighbor cluster NGC 1907 just below it.
And the grand finale, the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules, M13. I found a bonus galaxy in there too, NGC 6207 is the tiny smudge at 11 o'clock.
Well... I bothered. The sky was too clear to avoid.
With my D90 fitted with a beautiful (thank you Jim) William Optics Gran Turismo 81mm f9 (478mm FL) and mounted on the Meade RCX 400, I shot the Moon, Beehive Cluster (M44), M38 (in Auriga), and M13 (Great Globular Cluster in Hercules).
It was obviously a challenge to get anything worth showing due to the full moon washing out the entire sky, but I gave it a go anyway. The practice of operating the big scope, finding different objects, working on focus and processing was well worth the time and effort even if viewing was poor.
I'm getting much better at processing in DeepSkyStacker and finally figured out Registax6! Like I stated before, the problem was me, I'd suggest actually reading the tutorials and manuals online, it helps. My problem was that my files were just too big. I created a PhotoShop action to quickly run my RAW images through converting them to 2000x2000px BMP files and BINGO it works like a dream. All images were also processed in Photoshop CS5 after stacking, just contrast and sharpening adjustments.
Here's last night's "Pink" Moon (no, it's not actually pink. That's just the name for April's full Moon).
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| 100 frames via Registax6 @ 81mm 1/1000sec f6 ISO100 |
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| 30 frames via DeepSkyStacker @ 81mm 60sec f6 ISO400 |
And M38 with it's tiny neighbor cluster NGC 1907 just below it.
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| 30 frames via DeepSkyStacker @ 81mm 60sec f6 ISO400 |
And the grand finale, the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules, M13. I found a bonus galaxy in there too, NGC 6207 is the tiny smudge at 11 o'clock.
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| 30 frames via DeepSkyStacker @ 81mm 60sec f6 ISO500 |
Tonight I'll actually sleep. Good night.
...Next: work on getting a bit of true color into these images.
...Next: work on getting a bit of true color into these images.
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