{"id":41724,"date":"2023-02-14T14:43:17","date_gmt":"2023-02-14T14:43:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=41724"},"modified":"2023-02-16T09:20:47","modified_gmt":"2023-02-16T09:20:47","slug":"capture-imaging-the-moon-a-beginners-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/2023\/02\/14\/capture-imaging-the-moon-a-beginners-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Capture: Imaging the Moon \u2013 a beginner\u2019s guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
CAPTURE<\/span><\/h5>\n\n

Imaging the Moon \u2013 a beginner\u2019s guide<\/span><\/h2>\n\n

We walk you through how to get lovely lunar images, even with basic equipment<\/p>\n\n

\"\"
There are many ways to get great images of the Moon with basic kit, including simply pointing your smartphone camera down an eyepiece, as was the case here<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

The Moon is a great target for photography, whatever your level of experience. Being bright and having a tangible size in the sky, it doesn\u2019t call for specialised or expensive equipment. <\/p>\n\n

Although it\u2019s bright enough to photograph with a smartphone, the Moon may cause disappointment because, despite how it looks to your eye, it\u2019s actually pretty small. When fuller phases of the Moon are seen rising or setting, its proximity to the horizon makes it appear huge, an effect known as the Moon illusion. Try taking a photo of a Moon like this and you\u2019ll see just how small it really is. <\/p>\n\n

A bright, fuller-phase Moon against a dark sky may also cause exposure issues. Attempting to capture the Moon against a foreground horizon, an automatic camera typically either favours the Moon, losing the foreground, or else the foreground, over-exposing the Moon. <\/p>\n\n

One way around this is to try to catch the larger gibbous phases of the Moon during daylight conditions. The waxing gibbous phases can be seen in daylight in the afternoon to evening period before sunset, while the waning gibbous Moon appears in the morning sky after sunrise. <\/p>\n\n

Shoot for crescents <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

The waxing and waning crescent phases are even better as these can be caught under twilight conditions either after sunset or before sunrise respectively. Being less bright than a full Moon, a humble smartphone can often capture the shape of these beautiful crescents well. <\/p>\n\n

More detail is gained by zooming into the Moon\u2019s disc. Here it pays to know your phone\u2019s spec. Typical phone cameras have optical and digital zoom capabilities. Optical zoom uses lenses to increase magnification; digital zoom uses software to stretch an optical result. Consequently, digital zoom doesn\u2019t really give you any more than the maximum optical zoom of your camera. You\u2019d be better off using the maximum optical zoom setting then downloading and resizing the image yourself with photo-editing software.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Greater magnification can be obtained by coupling your phone to a telescope. The technique, known as afocal imaging, takes a bit of getting used to, but can produce surprisingly good results. Take a look at our guide below and try it for yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Another way to show lunar details is to use a more sophisticated camera. A DSLR, MILC or equivalent is ideal for this because you can switch the lens out for something that will give you a better image scale. Basically, the longer the focal length, the larger the image scale. Use a lens beyond 200mm focal length and you\u2019ll start to see convincing detail in the Moon\u2019s disc. With a 1,000mm telephoto lens you\u2019ll see seas, mountain ranges and, of course, craters.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

If you have a telescope, it\u2019s possible to couple your camera directly to the eyepiece holder to use the telescope as the telephoto lens. All you need is to use an adaptor ring specific to your camera make and model that has a T-thread, into which you can screw a nosepiece. Take a look at our guide<\/a> for how to do it.<\/p>\n\n

Readily available from telescope stockists, these inexpensive adaptors will open up all sorts of photographic adventures for you. <\/p>\n\n

Equipment:<\/strong> Smartphone, telescope <\/p>\n\n

Send your images to: gallery@skyatnightmagazine.com <\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

<\/div>
\n

Step by step<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

STEP 1<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/strong>Check the maximum optical zoom of your phone. Googling its make and model should tell you this. On a night when the Moon is present, point the camera at it and let it make automatic exposure adjustments. Press the shutter button. If you have some, wired headphones with volume controls may work as a remote shutter release, the volume control activating the shutter.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

STEP 2<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

If your camera over-exposes the Moon into a bright blob of light, see if it offers a pro mode where you can control the settings. If so, hold the camera to the Moon so auto-exposure settings are made, then switch to pro mode, which should retain those settings. Reduce the ISO or exposure so the Moon\u2019s disc isn\u2019t over-exposed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

STEP 3<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

To retain foreground detail as well as the Moon, the easiest way is to photograph the Moon when the sky is still bright and the foreground illuminated. This can be done with gibbous and full Moons during the day. Alternatively, crescent Moons will appear in the evening or morning twilight, after sunset or before sunrise.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

STEP 4 <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

For more detail, consider pointing your phone\u2019s camera down a telescope\u2019s eyepiece. The telescope needs to be pointing at the Moon and properly focused. It helps if the mount is driven, to avoid the Moon drifting out of view. If you wear glasses or contact lenses to correct your vision, they need to be in place.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

STEP 5<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Bring the phone close to the eyepiece, keeping the bright light emanating from the eyepiece in view. When as close as possible, make a final adjustment to the position of the phone so the Moon\u2019s image pops into view. Carefully press the button to take the shot. The headphone trick mentioned in step 1 is very helpful here.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

STEP 6 <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

If you fail the first time, keep trying. It takes a while to get it right. This technique is known as a focal imaging and works with other bright objects too. If you like taking photos this way, consider buying a mount to attach your phone to your telescope. They can be bought at relatively little cost, but they make holding the phone in position a great deal easier! <\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

Pete Lawrence is an expert astro-imager and a presenter on The Sky at Night<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

<\/div>\n\n

PHOTOS: ALL PICTURES: PETE LAWRENCE<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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