A Clear Saturday Night

For the first time in MANY days, we had a clear night. So I got out the Celestron, attached the N80 and shot a couple of frames of the moon.

I've been trying to get a good shot of a cresent moon, but can't seem to get one to save my life! Either I'm not at home, or it's been cloudy/rainy/foggy. One of these days, I'm sure my perseverence will pay off.

N80, Celestron C-8 (that's a 2032mm, f10 lens for those that are new to this forum), Superia Xtra 400, 1/350th second.

Great shot. I never seem to have much luck when I point my camera to the heavens. Several years ago I did get some nice eclipse pictures. A whole series of shots from start to finish. Every dog has it's day.

Hi Speed

This is a really good shot IMO. That is some lens you have there! I don't know anything about "shooting for the moon" but you really have captured some great photos, something I certainly can't imagine even attempting.

Liz :)

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Originally Posted by Speed

For the first time in MANY days, we had a clear night. So I got out the Celestron, attached the N80 and shot a couple of frames of the moon.

I've been trying to get a good shot of a cresent moon, but can't seem to get one to save my life! Either I'm not at home, or it's been cloudy/rainy/foggy. One of these days, I'm sure my perseverence will pay off.

N80, Celestron C-8 (that's a 2032mm, f10 lens for those that are new to this forum), Superia Xtra 400, 1/350th second.

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Nice shot buddy! Is this a full frame shot? Or have you cropped it? Looks full frame to me. Looks like you've got your Celestron figured out.

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Originally Posted by Old Timer

Great shot. I never seem to have much luck when I point my camera to the heavens. Several years ago I did get some nice eclipse pictures. A whole series of shots from start to finish. Every dog has it's day.

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It took a few tries to get sharp images, but I think I've finally got the knack of it.

I photographed the eclipse a couple of years ago. I shot those through the Celestron as well.

There are two solar and two lunar eclipses this year, so get out the camera and the tripod. Sometimes lighting strikes twice!

Thanks for the comments!

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Originally Posted by Liz

Hi Speed

This is a really good shot IMO. That is some lens you have there! I don't know anything about "shooting for the moon" but you really have captured some great photos, something I certainly can't imagine even attempting.

Liz :)

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For the kind and gracious words! The Celestron C-8 is a great piece of modern engineering. I've seen some good astro-photography shots taken with tele-photo lenses and tele-converters, so you don't need a telescope to take these shots. However, a steady tripod is a must!

If you ever decide to try some moon shots, here's how to do it. Use the longest focal length you've got. If you've got really good glass, like a 70-200mm f2.8, use a tele-converter. Shoot when the moon is nearing first quarter or after last quarter - you get more detail that way. Use the sunny f16 rule as a starting point. You will probably find sunny f22 is better. Brackett your shots. For the shot I just posted, I shot at 1/250 second, 1/350th second, and 1/500th second. The 1/350th shot was the sharpest. Good Luck!

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Originally Posted by I_Fly

Nice shot buddy! Is this a full frame shot? Or have you cropped it? Looks full frame to me. Looks like you've got your Celestron figured out.

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You are correct - again! This is full frame. Sorry I didn't think to mention that.

The great thing about my Celestron, is that the sun and moon are frame filling at prime focus. Prime focus is where you attach the camera to the telescope where the eyepiece goes. The telescope becomes a big prime focus lens. That is, if you think an eight inch diameter, 2032mm lens is big. :-O

I tried some shots of the moon using tele-extention last night. That is where you use an eyepiece before the camera. You lose a lot of light, but you get a lot of magnification. I'm curious to see how those come out.

Thanks for the comments my friend!

Speed,

That is really cool. Awesome "telephoto" lens you have there.

Dennis

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Originally Posted by dsl712

Speed,

That is really cool. Awesome "telephoto" lens you have there.

Dennis

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I'm glad you liked the shot.

As for my "telephoto" lens, allow me to quote Tim 'The Tool Man' Taylor: "What you need is more power"!

I'm curious to see the difference between the two types of shots. These are some pretty cool shots.

BTW, want to make any predictions what the scientists are going to say they've discovered about Mars? My guess is some significant indication of water. :)

Hand held, right? Haha...

Great shot, very sharp! I didn't know there were two lunar eclipses this year, I keep trying but never get what I want. Same way you get to Carnegie Hall, I guess - practice, practice, practice.

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Originally Posted by I_Fly

I'm curious to see the difference between the two types of shots. These are some pretty cool shots.

BTW, want to make any predictions what the scientists are going to say they've discovered about Mars? My guess is some significant indication of water. :)

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I am very eager to see how the tele-extension shots come out. As I said, there is a lot of light loss using that technique, so I'm guessing at exposure times (and the image gets soft on you as well). You will know shortly after I do!

Water on Mars? You bet! And lots of it - in the past. Still a good amount there is my guess. Locked up at the poles and in the permafrost. Who knows how much underground. It is interesting to see how much they can learn.

And don't forget that the Cassini spacecraft is rapidly approaching Saturn! The next few months are going to be very interesting in the space arena. :-)

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Originally Posted by another view

Hand held, right? Haha...

Great shot, very sharp! I didn't know there were two lunar eclipses this year, I keep trying but never get what I want. Same way you get to Carnegie Hall, I guess - practice, practice, practice.

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Of course! While standing up, no less. :-O

Yep, two eclipses this year. Here's a link to the info:

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing...cle_1135_2.asp

Also, there are two comets that should be visible this year, and Venus is going to transit the Sun.

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing...cle_1135_1.asp

If you're even going to think about shooting the sun, make absolutely sure that you've got the proper protection for your eyes, as well as your camera. Of course, you can also use projection to view the events. Just project the image onto a card. There is info on how to do this at the Sky and Telescope website.

Keep practicing buddy. You'll get the hang of it. With two cameras now, I'm hoping to set one camera up and shoot multiple exposures of the eclipse onto one frame. :-)

I do have the Canon 200mm/f2.8 lens. But don't have a converter. However, it will probably be a while. I have nowhere to set it up - very little sky from our house as the houses are too close together. I'll enjoy yours!

Liz ;)

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Originally Posted by Speed

For the kind and gracious words! The Celestron C-8 is a great piece of modern engineering. I've seen some good astro-photography shots taken with tele-photo lenses and tele-converters, so you don't need a telescope to take these shots. However, a steady tripod is a must!

If you ever decide to try some moon shots, here's how to do it. Use the longest focal length you've got. If you've got really good glass, like a 70-200mm f2.8, use a tele-converter. Shoot when the moon is nearing first quarter or after last quarter - you get more detail that way. Use the sunny f16 rule as a starting point. You will probably find sunny f22 is better. Brackett your shots. For the shot I just posted, I shot at 1/250 second, 1/350th second, and 1/500th second. The 1/350th shot was the sharpest. Good Luck!

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[QUOTE=Speed]If you're even going to think about shooting the sun, make absolutely sure that you've got the proper protection for your eyes, as well as your camera. Of course, you can also use projection to view the events. Just project the image onto a card. There is info on how to do this at the Sky and Telescope website. QUOTE]

Thanks for the info - I'm not going to try solar eclipses because of all the potential problems. What I've tried with lunar eclipses is shooting multiple exposures, one every few minutes (at a specific interval). I don't have an intervalometer but used to on my N8008s with the multi control back - that would be really handy! Two cameras can be alot to keep track of if you're just looking at your watch - I'll have to figure out something else.

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Originally Posted by Liz

I do have the Canon 200mm/f2.8 lens. But don't have a converter. However, it will probably be a while. I have nowhere to set it up - very little sky from our house as the houses are too close together. I'll enjoy yours!

Liz ;)

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Will do the job! You saw Old Timer's shot. As for being surrounded by houses, you may need to take a drive out into the country. Find a reasonably dark site, a decent sky line (hills, rocks, trees) and shoot a few frames. You may be surprised at how well they come out.

:-)

[QUOTE=another view]

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Originally Posted by Speed

If you're even going to think about shooting the sun, make absolutely sure that you've got the proper protection for your eyes, as well as your camera. Of course, you can also use projection to view the events. Just project the image onto a card. There is info on how to do this at the Sky and Telescope website. QUOTE]

Thanks for the info - I'm not going to try solar eclipses because of all the potential problems. What I've tried with lunar eclipses is shooting multiple exposures, one every few minutes (at a specific interval). I don't have an intervalometer but used to on my N8008s with the multi control back - that would be really handy! Two cameras can be alot to keep track of if you're just looking at your watch - I'll have to figure out something else.

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Is to get a Neutral Density ND400 filter for your lens. It reduces the light by 9 stops! That's 1/500th the intensity. You have to reduce the sun to about 1/100th to make it safe. Something to consider. Here's an example:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=155259&is=REG

As for the lunar eclipse, I know I'm going to set one camera on a tripod, probably with a 50mm lens, and set the timer on my watch for 5 or 10 minutes. Every time my watch beeps, I'll take another frame. That will be a no-brainer. I'll probably attach the other camera to the Celestron and shoot the eclipse - close up. :-)

Now if the weather will just cooperate this year....