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CapturingTheNight β Lunar Eclipse 16th of June
Published: 2011-06-16 08:22:36 +0000 UTC; Views: 30338; Favourites: 3018; Downloads: 0
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Β© Greg Gibbs. You may not use, replicate, manipulate, or modify this image without my permission. All Rights Reserved.Total Lunar Eclipse 16/06/2011
(I just noticed that the date and time is wrong on the exif data. It was taken on the 16th of June(Australian time) at about 6:30 am).
Australia was pretty well placed for this eclipse. The weather was perfect, so I got up about an hour before it all started to setup the telescope and various cameras.
This picture was taken during the darkest part of the eclipse, when the moon passed almost directly through the centre of the Earths shadow. The colour is caused by all the sunrises and sunsets on Earth reflecting off the moon (Edit: ok, I was in a bit of a rush to post this, so i'll phrase this part better now- The red coloring arises because sunlight reaching the Moon must pass through a long and dense layer of the Earthβs atmosphere, where it is scattered. Shorter wavelengths are more likely to be scattered by the air molecules and the small particles, and so by the time the light has passed through the atmosphere, the longer wavelengths dominate. This resulting light we perceive as red. This is the same effect that causes sunsets and sunrises to turn the sky a reddish color; an alternative way of considering the problem is to realize that, as viewed from the Moon, the Sun would appear to be setting (or rising) behind the Earth.
Canon EOS 1000D
10 inch (25cm) F/4 Newtonian Reflector Telescope
Baader Coma Corrector
NEQ6 Pro Goto Mount set on Lunar Tracking
ISO 100
Exposure Length 13 seconds
My other photos from the same eclipse
Note (23/06/2011): The support for this photo has been overwhelming. I'm truly humbled that so many people have found enjoyment in it. If you comment on this photo (or any of my other photos for that matter), I will reply, but please understand that I just can not get around to thanking you all for the favs. I would never get off this computer to take other photos. Please consider this one big THANK YOU!!!
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Comments: 975
The moon wasn't visible in Sweden, so I missed it ;A;
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Sorry to hear that. I hope you have better luck for the next one in December [link]
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Yeah, I hope so too c:
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Perfect! You had all the luck with the weather... We had clouds here in Germany
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Thanks 
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This is amazing, i remember sseing a lunar eclipse a few years ago!
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Thanks
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Awesome, we couldn't see it like this where I live, the moon was only slightly orange and huge, plus there were a lot of clouds, thanks so much, it's so amazing!
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Thank you very much
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Thank you so much
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there was a Luner Eclipse on March 8, 2011. at about 11:00pm.
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Are you sure it was a Lunar Eclipse? While I'm sure you saw something on the 8th of March, there were no eclipses around that date. [link] NASA link showing all the eclipses in 2011
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well, it was the exact same color as the moon in the picter, so if it wasnt a Lunar Eclipse, then what was it?
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There are a few atmospheric conditions that can turn the moon a redder colour, particularly smoke and dust in the atmosphere, reducing the visable light reaching us (which we perceive as red.) It might have been something like that?
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aah. I'm so jealous of anyone who has seen it.
Here in the Netherlands was very cloudy so you saw nothing
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Im sorry to hear you had bad luck with the weather. Hopefully the next one in December is better for you [link]
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Thank you very much
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Thank you
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I only have a 300mm lens, and when I try to take photos of the moon at night, it only looks like a shiney orb with no detail. Any suggestions? D:
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Yep. I know exactly what you need to do. First you need a tripod. Next find your cameras manual (to look up how to do what I am about to explain, if you are not familiar with all the functions and settings) Now get your camera in to manual mode(M). We want to be able to take a photo that is very under-exposed (or so the camera thinks) The sky around the moon is obviously very dark so if the camera is in a automatic mode then is is going to try and expose the dark part properly and not the little bright spot of the moon. If you are getting a shiny orb, this is exactly what is happening. Moving on- Set the aperture to a middle-ish value F/7 to F/10. ISO somewhere fairly low (say 100 to 400). Put shutter speed to about 1/400th of a second for now. Now find the moon in your view finder (if you have live view- use it.) at what ever focal length you want (300mm) Put the lens in manual focus and focus as best you can on the moon (Autofocus can sometimes work, but I never trust it) Now put a self timer delay on the shutter (most cameras can do a 2 second delay and/or a 10 second delay). Now for the fun- Press the shutter button, and take your finger off so you are not vibrating the camera. The timer will count down, then take the photo. What happened with the picture? You certainly shouldn't have a white orb. If it looks a bit over exposed still, then go for a faster shutter speed (higher 1/something-th). If it looks a bit too dark, then lower your shutter speed or raise your ISO a bit.
I hope this helps
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I appreciate you taking the time to type all that out, thanks.
I dont know how to change the shutter speed manually and if I try to change the aperture ring thing past the "A", it flashes with an "F--" thing on the little "screen" on the top-right part of the camera.
I have a Pentax K200D (a few years old to be honest), so maybe its not possible to do the things required. Thanks anyway.
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Not a problem. It should still be possible. Try to track down a manual for that camera to find out how to change all the settings. It is maybe flashing the F-- thing because the shutter speed hasn't been adjusted and it thinks the picture will be over/under exposed. Good luck with it all.
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Yeah, I have a manual for the camera and each lens it came with has a few instructions on how to do certain things.
Once again, thanks for everything.
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I saw this eclipse in Madrid
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Glad to hear that
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Wow! This is sooo awesome! Great job!
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Thank you very much
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omfgggg in austria it wasnt soooo red wow O_O
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Love it! Fantastic work, Greg
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Thank you so very much Sebastian
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Oh, my pleasure!
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Really well done. Sharp enough, and dark enough to realise the eclipse. Wonderfull photo ... and considering a 800 mm telescope: Did you crop the image in you digital afterwork?
And did you treat the stars in some way? Cause the light seems to be very well balanced.
Nevertheless ... really good work.
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Thank you very much for the nice feedback
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Then it's even better ... wow!
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So pretty, for the record: I could have seen it... BUT I FELL ASLEEP!!!
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Thanks
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Thank you
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I wasn't getting up in winter for it >.< I'll just look at your awesome photo instead
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