Possible photo op this evening

[rocketman]

Total lunar eclipse.. here the low down not another one till 2010!

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"It looks like it's going to be a hard one to spot," Seto said.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the full moon passes into Earth's shadow and is blocked from the sun's rays that normally illuminate it. During an eclipse, the sun, Earth and moon line up, leaving a darkened moon visible to observers on the night side of the planet.

The moon doesn't go black because indirect sunlight still reaches it after passing through the Earth's atmosphere. Since the atmosphere filters out blue light, the indirect light that reaches the moon transforms it into a reddish or orange tinge, depending on how much dust and cloud cover are in the atmosphere at the time.

Wednesday's total eclipse phase will last nearly an hour. Earth's shadow is expected to blot out the moon beginning around 7 p.m. on the West Coast and 10 p.m. on the East Coast. West Coast skygazers will miss the start of the eclipse because it occurs before the moon rises.

Unlike solar eclipses which require protective eyewear, lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye.

Later this year, in August, there will be a total solar eclipse and a partial lunar eclipse."

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When shooting the moon (no not THAT kind of moon!) remember to treat it as a sun lit object, start with 1/60 of second or probably higher as much as 1/250 or more to start and adjust as the surface darkens. Take lots of shots, bracketing as you go, either speed or f-stop. For P&S cameras that have a "programmable" setting but can't adjust f-stop or shutter speeds use the EV +/- with a setting of at least 1/3 EV and go 2 or 3 stops above and below the cameras setting. As the eclipse progresses you will have to adjust down the speed/ or f-stop.

You can go for a zoomed in or wide angle with some nice background like horizon line at 1/3 lower frame or include some trees framing the moon to one side or the other or both. A building would also work to add interest. Since it will happen in the west early you might be able to get some shots off with the horizon still lit some or anything else you choose to frame the photo still lit with some ambient lighting from the setting sun.

If you have a tripod use it, it makes making changes to the camera setting easier while maintaining the composition. also makes for a sharper shot as speeds approch 1/60.

another thing to try is to take some shots of the moon, exposing for that alone, then take some shots of backgrounds without the moon in the shot and paste the moon into it using photoshop or some other editing software. Many have a "magic lasso" type tool and just by right-clicking on the moon the software will create a decent cut because of the high contrast between the moon and the background sky. then take the cut image of the moon and paste it into another shot. With a little trial and effort it can be fairly easy to do and that way each component will be exposed properly. Since the moon is so bright its very hard to expose both background and moon in one shot properly if you want any detail in either.

Give it a shot if you have some clearing in the clouds and lets see the results. We could then discuss the entries and folks could learn a few tricks to shooting the moon, it can both fun and challenging.

RM

[bricciphoto]

Even if I'm not very adept at shooting them, I love lunar eclipses. Depending on the clarity of the sky and the potluck of being in the right place at the right time the colors can be stunning. Thanks for the heads up RM (I'm usually on top of this sort of thing, but not this time. :p ).

This might make an interesting quasi-assignment for the MOA photographers!

[rocketman]

Well the times are good all across the US for this one, but the weather does not look like its going to cooperate, i did complain to NOAA but they said it was out of thier hands!:laugh
it sure doesn't look good for this side of the of US......
RM

[grossjohann]

Looks great from NY. Clear skys and about 15 degrees...

The Nikon's at the office, so I'm having a go with the PAS Sony...

Get out and have a look if you get the chance. Camera or not!

[torags]

This was the best I could get before 1/2 hr before the eclipse. Clouds covered about 10 min after shot. Noisy as hell.


http://torags.smugmug.com/photos/257018792_mK2qK-M.jpg

[37071]

This is a tough assignment. I stood outside for an hour taking pictures as the earth shadow covered the moon. It was dark, so I can't see too well, and all the shots I took were out of focus. It is also about -12C but thank goodness there is no wind. I went back out and took more pictures. They are in focus but it looks as if Earth now has two moons?? I am blaming my tripod (POS).

[Voni]

I can't decide if I like this one . . .

[Voni]

Or, this one.

[Voni]

And, just for some motorcycle content.

Voni
sMiling

[rocketman]

Wow Voni, way to go! I like number 2 a LOT!!

Good balance of bright and dark areas, you can see detail in the dark area and the bright is not such that it washes out the rest of the photo, nicely done!

RM

[franze]

Wow, wow, wow. Good job Voni. Take a bow, or a curtsy , what the hell, do both:clap :clap :clap


note to mods; Is it possible to get some Pink Floyd: Dark side of the Moon piped in when we click on this thread??????????

[rocketman]

Wow, wow, wow. Good job Voni. Take a bow, or a curtsy , what the hell, do both:clap :clap :clap


note to mods; Is it possible to get some Pink Floyd: Dark side of the Moon piped in when we click on this thread??????????

Sorry, you'll just have to listen to the tunes in your head! (or voices, or whatever....:laugh )

RM


"sometimes the road to enlightenment requires crawling down a long dark tunnel" - me (I think?)

(don't ask why I included that, just liked the sound of it, I guess:scratch )

[rocketman]

This is a tough assignment. I stood outside for an hour taking pictures as the earth shadow covered the moon. It was dark, so I can't see too well, and all the shots I took were out of focus. It is also about -12C but thank goodness there is no wind. I went back out and took more pictures. They are in focus but it looks as if Earth now has two moons?? I am blaming my tripod (POS).

Oh I don't know I kinda like the double image, just pretend it was intentional!:laugh And the reddish trees kinda make the whole image errie in a sort of super-natural way, I like it! And bravo on spending an hour in -12C temps to try for some shots, now THAT's dedication!:clap

RM

[rocketman]

OK, so would you beleive that I totally spaced out on this myself? I got so involved working with my images from the recent trip that I didn't even think about it till I was heading up to bed wondering if the sky cleared up? At first I figured it was a lost cause as we had a heavy overcast all afternoon, then snow toward evening with more on the way today, so I had asumed it was a lost cause by early evening and that it was not going to be visable, but I stepped outside for a second on the way to bed and damn if the skys weren't clear as a bell, the stars really putting on a show and the moon at 95% coverage. I tried for a few hand held with the VR lens at 300mm but by then getting a good exposure meant at least a 1/2 sec or longer which would require getting the tripod and layering up against the 28 Deg temps and wind. At that point it just didn't appeal to me as I figured that would mean a good 1/2 hour for any even half hearted attempt and bed was calling so...*sigh*. Ha Ha!

And to think I was the who suggested going for it! Oh Well, at least a few did better than me, hopefully we'll get a few more shots in later today.

Again, bravo to those that did get out there

RM

(with a face full of egg....)

[bricciphoto]

I had a heck of a time shooting this too. Here's two shots that are reasonably sharp. Man, it was cold outside while shooting this. :p

http://bricciphoto.smugmug.com/photos/257123925_egaS9-S.jpg

http://bricciphoto.smugmug.com/photos/257123956_qhRMZ-S.jpg

[SNC1923]

Beautiful photos. What a surprise to log on and find all these great shots. Particular congratulations to Voni. . . . What did you shoot this with Voni? Gorgeous.

I drove to a camera club meeting last night at the height of the eclipse last night. I felt strange not photographing it. This has been a horrendous week, just running from fire to fire. . . .

Glad someone made time to shoot this. Thanks again for the great views!

[Voni]

I used Paul's telescope and my handheld Finepix Z5. It was tricky getting the focus just right, but so much fun experimenting.

It was great to know it would be appreciated here.

Voni
beaming

[grossjohann]

Voni, you have the patience of a saint... I tried that with my telescope, but gave up after a few failed attempts.

Maybe it was the cold (15 degrees), or the darkenss, or the high magnification on my telescope, but I couldn't get the lens properly aligned with the eyepiece long enough to get an autofocus...

Here's my best (cropped):
http://lh6.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/R72PMDaQdFI/AAAAAAAABd0/mimsxbw5wGU/s800/DSC02211.JPG

[bmwdean]

Voni, you have the patience of a saint... I tried that with my telescope, but gave up after a few failed attempts.

Maybe it was the cold (15 degrees), or the darkenss, or the high magnification on my telescope, but I couldn't get the lens properly aligned with the eyepiece long enough to get an autofocus...

Here's my best (cropped):
http://lh6.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/R72PMDaQdFI/AAAAAAAABd0/mimsxbw5wGU/s800/DSC02211.JPG

Alex,

Note that that is Jupiter at about 8 o'clock from the moon. Nice.

[bmwdean]

I went outside, set up my 500mm lens and sturdy tripod and waited breathlessly. Then a large cloud bank moved it and I couldn't even find the moon's location. Now I have to wait two more years before trying again and hope there are no clouds.

The Arizona Daily Star posted this photo today, taken in NE Tucson. I was in western Tucson. Apparently clouds did not obscure the moon over there.

<img border=1 src=http://www.azstarnet.com/ss/2008/02/21/l226205-1.jpg>

[rocketman]

Voni, you have the patience of a saint... I tried that with my telescope, but gave up after a few failed attempts.

Maybe it was the cold (15 degrees), or the darkenss, or the high magnification on my telescope, but I couldn't get the lens properly aligned with the eyepiece long enough to get an autofocus...

Here's my best (cropped):
http://lh6.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/R72PMDaQdFI/AAAAAAAABd0/mimsxbw5wGU/s800/DSC02211.JPG


I like the way Jupiter can be clearly seen as a planet rather than just a dot of light, very nice. Even has a bit of color showing.


FYI if you spend enough time star gazing you will start to notice the different colors of them, it takes practice and patience but once you become aware of it, I've found it adds to the experience. The colors relate to the stars temperatures and indirectly to size and age.

RM
(junior astronomer)

[grossjohann]

I like the way Jupiter can be clearly seen as a planet rather than just a dot of light, very nice. Even has a bit of color showing.


FYI if you spend enough time star gazing you will start to notice the different colors of them, it takes practice and patience but once you become aware of it, I've found it adds to the experience. The colors relate to the stars temperatures and indirectly to size and age.

RM
(junior astronomer)

Thanks, Jeff.

I had tried a longer exposure, but the motion of the Earth blurred the image. I suppose I needed a motorized tripod to track the motion of the heavens...

[crgrbrts]

Ben and Voni -- very nice, indeed!

What'd you shoot with??

[OfficerImpersonator]

Here are some I took with my 300mm lens on a Canon D60 on a tripod:

http://dvandkq.net/images/20080220-029.jpg

http://dvandkq.net/images/20080220-051.jpg

http://dvandkq.net/images/20080220-023.jpg

http://dvandkq.net/images/20080220-077.jpg

http://dvandkq.net/images/20080220-047.jpg

http://dvandkq.net/images/20080220-058.jpg

[capecodbeemer]

Hand held P&S full zoom.

http://capecodbeemer.smugmug.com/photos/257313715_uKbDW-L.jpg

[bmwdean]

Frustrated last night by the clouds obscuring the eclipse, I went back out tonight with the moon rising just above the horizon. Used an ancient manual 500mm f/8 Reflex-Nikkor lens, which is the equivalent of a 750mm lens on my digital SLR. Tonight is a full moon :)

[rocketman]

Hand held P&S full zoom.

http://capecodbeemer.smugmug.com/photos/257313715_uKbDW-L.jpg

Oh god you almost gave me a heart attack when I read your sig line! Ha Ha I love it!

Vini Vici Velcro what a scream!

Welcome to the photo phorum, hope you'll "stick" around for a bit!

Ha Ha!

Oh, almost forgot, nice effort on the shot as well.....doin' it with a P&S is really challenging ..


RM

(still chortling......) ho ho .....

[rocketman]

Frustrated last night by the clouds obscuring the eclipse, I went back out tonight with the moon rising just above the horizon. Used a 500mm Nikkor lens, which is the equivalent of a 750mm lens on my digital SLR. Tonight is a full moon :)

Wow! a real stunner there, did you use any filters and what settings? That's one of the best moon shots I've seen to date. Shooting it when full is I think the most challenging. I like it when its at 1/2 or less as you can see the relief of the carters due to the shadows of the side lighting on the globe and its a bit easier to expose.


Lovely shot....

RM

[bmwdean]

Wow! a real stunner there, did you use any filters and what settings? That's one of the best moon shots I've seen to date. Shooting it when full is I think the most challenging. I like it when its at 1/2 or less as you can see the relief of the carters due to the shadows of the side lighting on the globe and its a bit easier to expose.


Lovely shot....

RM

Thank you.

No filters; f/8 is fixed aperture on my old 500mm Reflex-Nikkor. Set D300 to aperture priority, of course (no choice there), and used spot metering. Mounted on a tripod. Exposure was surprising short. About 1/160th, as I recall.

[dancogan]

Frustrated last night by the clouds obscuring the eclipse, I went back out tonight with the moon rising just above the horizon. Used an ancient manual 500mm f/8 Reflex-Nikkor lens, which is the equivalent of a 750mm lens on my digital SLR. Tonight is a full moon :)

Very nice! It required really good technique to accomplish that. :thumb

[rocketman]

Thank you.

No filters; f/8 is fixed aperture on my old 500mm Reflex-Nikkor. Set D300 to aperture priority, of course (no choice there), and used spot metering. Mounted on a tripod. Exposure was surprising short. About 1/160th, as I recall.

Thanks and 1/160 isn't really surprising given that, as I stated eariler, the moon IS a sunlit object even given its distance, esp. when full. Note how well one can see under a full moon at night when in an area free of artificial lighting. I've shot as fast as 1/250 at F5.6 (which works about the same given the bigger f-stop).

RM

[37071]

I was told years ago that with ASA100 film one would get the best moon pictures at f8 and 1/125 sec. That was standard for daylight.