Official Astro Event announcements, discussion and image display; Show us all

It has been a lot of times that only a major astronomical event came to our knowledge after it was over. A lot of us wishing to knew it before hand and could take the opportunity for shooting individually. The purpose of this thread is to inform such events or likewise. Yes there are plenty of sites on web that do give the information on regular basis but not everyone follow each site and there is no universal announcing source either. A lot of events such as many comets are only first observed and discovered by hobbyist astrophotographres and likewise. As responsible photographers, specially that we have such a great community of helping astrophotographers here with a very wide spectrum of expertise at POTN, willing to share, teach or learn, let's use this thread to keep us informed well ahead of time so that we can discuss the event, get prepared, know the tools needed, talk of past experience if any, and then enjoy the end result from various sites of world as we have members all over the globe with a common interest.

So here is to start the thread:

April 15th is not a day that anyone can forget if you are US resident (That Nasty Tax day) but then be prepare this year and make sure you have filed your taxes well ahead of time as you may need the early morning hours for something very much more interesting.
"TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE OF THE YEAR"
to be well seen in Northern America. To say the least, we should have some opportunity of at least seeing and hopefully capturing that Red red Moon (penumbra phase). Whole process is quit lengthy and will take more than an hours but we all may not be able to witness the phenomenon in its entirety. Any way this should be quite exciting. As most of us have good experience with moon and simplicity of its shooting, this should be a good trial for all. Some references are in links below: Let's know what you think?

NASA LINK

WEB MEDIA LINK

thanks for starting this link

Just remember the moon will not be as bright as normal during full eclipse. This was taken in 2011 using a 300 2.8+2xTC f8; iso 12,800, shutter .4 sec. This is the full un-cropped image un-edited.

atexasphotog wrote in post #16823463
thanks for starting this link

garys1 wrote in post #16824065
Just remember the moon will not be as bright as normal during full eclipse. This was taken in 2011 using a 300 2.8+2xTC f8; iso 12,800, shutter .4 sec. This is the full un-cropped image un-edited.

Thank you atexasphotog and you are most welcome.

garys1; That is one excellent image. I bet its hard to beat this one. You have a lot of detail and beautiful round stars indicative well done job. Thanks for sharing and specially you included a detail EXIF that should be a good guide to assess a be ready for the upcoming event.
I vividly remember the very first penumbra of my life when I was filling my car in a gas station and please don't laugh at me, but thought either something is wrong with my eyes or sky has abnormal amount of smog!!! Well can't wait to see how this one is going to look like.

Thanks, Samsen! I hope you see the moon the same we will here. When you are outside, it doesn't seem like the moon is out--everything is as if it weren't there. This time I have a 500 f4 so I'll have images from that lens+TC as well as the 300 with TC. I'll use the 1DMIV with the 500 and 5DMkII with the 300.

suggest this be moved to "Discuss Astronomy and Celestial Photography " forum, where the talk and planning is there......

garys1 wrote in post #16824225
Thanks, Samsen! I hope you see the moon the same we will here. When you are outside, it doesn't seem like the moon is out--everything is as if it weren't there. This time I have a 500 f4 so I'll have images from that lens+TC as well as the 300 with TC. I'll use the 1DMIV with the 500 and 5DMkII with the 300.

Gary that 500 F4 should knock it off totally. Please make sure to share some images. I am going to try with my L 300 F2.8 and because the length of process is really long (Full eclipse expected to occur at mid night and last for about one and a half hour) in west coast, I may try other focal lengths too. Wish I was at my mountain location where I have large big eyes with tracking but this is mid week. Did I say tax day too and I haven't made it yet... May be I am going to get sick

mtbdudex wrote in post #16824437
suggest this be moved to "Discuss Astronomy and Celestial Photography " forum, where the talk and planning is there......

I am hoping to see all different approaches, specially "Pictures" in this thread not only Discussion. And more people are here in this thread, asking for advise in this regard that may actually see and have benefit of info here, in any ways. I really don't think location of thread maters much as much the information to be passed and then discussion in order to lead to the most important part, end result; The pictures. So pictures are most welcome here. Any way, mods are welcomed to place the thread anywhere as long as visibility and ease of finding is not jeopardized.

By the way all Astrophotographers, be ready. April is a very busy month, that is beside the Full lunar eclipse.

Other evens to follow very shortly but surely more difficult to photograph are:

LYRID METEROR SHOWER peak, night of April 22 leading to morning of 23 , but should be visible few before and after nights as well. Lyrid has some of the brightest meteors and even presence of waning gibbous moon, after the midnight should not disturb the show significantly. It is estimated to see upto 20 meteors per hour, that is one every three minutes on peak night...

then: ANNULAR ECLIPSE OF SUN on April 29.

But for now lets concentrate on Total lunar eclipse of April 15 (Night of April 14 leading to morning of 15).

Isn't that strange that half of the year nothing happens and then three import events are in a row for this months to occur only in the next few days? Now only if you could ask for some sort of warranty against the ...., no its going to be jinx and I am not going to name that devil "Clouds". Opsss.

Oh forgot to mentioned; Tonight at few minutes before 8PM in Western coast of USA, ISS is going to make a visible pass in about 15 degree altitude. But seems it is all going to be totally ruined by cloud at least in LA area as we have very dense cloud all around.
To check exact time according to your coordinate and geo location, use this :

LINK

Click on "ISS" under "Satellites"

Good thread Samsen, I'm kind of amazed that one hasn't been thought of already.

Also, I know a lot of people are aware of this already, but this link is a really good one. This place lets you know when the ISS is going to be overhead for you, AND, they will e-mail you beforehand to let you know. It really is very convenient that they do this. This page also explains the best way to see it, how to go about judging where it will be (degrees, etc.) and that stuff, VERY helpful!

http://spotthestation.​nasa.gov/

Randy

Thanks Randy. That free email service is priceless and thank for sharing it and not assuming everyone knows about it. Specially that it is from a very reliable source too.

And with fast approaching "Total Lunar Eclipse" I am sure every one who is interested to take this rare opportunity into a nice poster for the wall or screensaver has found that steady tripod, manual control on camera, unobstructed East to (At least) high sky view, but now, I am wondering if anyone with first hand experience can give a first hand suggestion for a lot of people here seeking info on:

1- What are the correct exposures for moon as the light fad, from total bright to total dark or more correctly Red hue.

2- What phases of moon are "MUST" to be definitely kept in the picture series, so that end result could yield a nice collage / poster?

Please help all.

Another thing I could use some info on is any tips to keep the camera steady on a tripod (!). I did a test run last night with my 5D2 and the EF 400mm f/5.6 and this is what I got:

Blurry, blurry shots and out of focus to boot

Focusing was a problem. Couldn't nail it either with the back button or switching to the shutter button and using a cable release. I don't know if it was the wind coming through the window, but the whole rig wobbled terribly. Didn't have much luck manual focusing either: the image came in focus, but as soon as I let go of the ring, it went OOF again.

Alveric wrote in post #16833014
Another thing I could use some info on is any tips to keep the camera steady on a tripod (!). I did a test run last night with my 5D2 and the EF 400mm f/5.6 and this is what I got:

Blurry, blurry shots and out of focus to boot

Focusing was a problem. Couldn't nail it either with the back button or switching to the shutter button and using a cable release. I don't know if it was the wind coming through the window, but the whole rig wobbled terribly. Didn't have much luck manual focusing either: the image came in focus, but as soon as I let go of the ring, it went OOF again.

Sorry to hear and see that.
From your link, the very first image is the sharpest one of the series.
But then it seems light has passed through a media that has caused diffusion. Not sure if this atmospheric effect (Say mild fog/cloud) or a lens or filter problem that you need to inspect.
Image 2 through 4 are having significant motion artifact.
Other images seems OOF in first place.

Not sure what is your tripod but I suspect it is not adequately stable for the weight of your gears.

Looking at your first image, you should be able to achieve a good focus if you find how to alleviate motion and whatever is the cause. Specially during full eclipse, you need to gather a lot of light so motionlessness is the key.

1- My suggestions, try to boost your ISO to the extend that noise can be adequately removed on post processing. This is the least and simplest thing you may want to do to improve the image. Take few test images and check before the real photography time.

2- Change your tripod and go for a more steady one. Make sure your camera, with attached long lens, is in the center of gravity and well balanced. This is the time to use the Lens tripod month rather than camera to achieve this and best is to use "Arca Swiss" type quick release plates of adequate length so that you can move the entire weight to find that right position of the balance.

3- Only shoot in Manual focusing mode. Achieve focus by using LiveView then magnify the LCD image to Ten Times (Two click on magnified glass icon) and with that magnification, looking at a moon crater, you should be able to make a perfect focus. Now either mark the focusing ring as you can or tap it or make sure there is no more motion. Take a few test images and check the on large computer monitor to make sure all is fine, before the real photography time.


4- Not only you want to use cable to release shutter (That if you don't have one, you can try keeping self timer on 10 second delay), but also you want to go to "Custom mode" of your camera and set it on "Mirror Look up" position. That upward movement of mirror at the time of shutter release, is a cause for internal vibration and on some cameras, specially with longer exposure time, may show the damage more obvious than others in form of motion artifact.

5- If you have filter, remove it for the length of night photography.

6- Wind definitely has impact on gears. You can't stop wind but might be able to chose a better location or make sure you remove things that exacerbate motion such as strap from the camera to say the least.

7- Full moon is relatively easy to shoot as you can use fairly fast speed. I am always good to go with ISO 100, 1/400 sec shutter speed and F 8 or so. Try and see for your self if this is a right exposure value and if so you need to compensate and increase exposure progressively as moon gets smaller during eclipse or during normal monthly cycle. Use on line calculators and here is one:

LINK TO MOON EXPOSURE CALCULATOR

Make sure to do all the homework tonight and be prepare to have you laptop or PC set handy to check the result intermittently. You don't surprise during total eclipse that happens only once every several years or you may have to wait very long for the next one.

Even little motion on "Red Moon" is going to be tolerable as capturing all the detail is going to be difficult unless you have a tracking device.

Well wish you the best and no matter what, place your result here for more advice if needed as there are plenty of very good night photographers here on POTN that you will get their opinion when asked for. Have fun. To say the least, observing the event would be great and pleasurable.

Hi there, Samsen,

Thanks for replying. Here's the 'rig' I was using:

http://diamantstudios.​ca/Gemeines/bilder/Moo​n_rig.jpg

Yes, the lens has a protection filter attached (all my lenses do). I can take it off for this event, of course, so, if that's what's causing diffusion, then that one variable is easily taken care of.

Images look like they have motion blur not diffusion. If your center post has a hook, I would hook a weight to it and let it barely touch the ground. Don't let it hang free, the wind will blow it all over the place and may even knock the tripod and gear to the ground! Definitely remove the filter. At 600mm (300 2.8IS +2xTC) I shot at iso 6400 f8 ss around .4. I used center point metering and watched the meter for over/under exposure. In Hawaii we will have another total lunar eclipse Oct7-8 so if I mess up this time, I'll have another shot at it in a few months!

garys1 wrote in post #16833236
Images look like they have motion blur not diffusion. If your center post has a hook, I would hook a weight to it and let it barely touch the ground. Don't let it hang free, the wind will blow it all over the place and may even knock the tripod and gear to the ground! Definitely remove the filter. At 600mm (300 2.8IS +2xTC) I shot at iso 6400 f8 ss around .4. I used center point metering and watched the meter for over/under exposure. In Hawaii we will have another total lunar eclipse Oct7-8 so if I mess up this time, I'll have another shot at it in a few months!

Excellent advise.
Also alternatively if your tripod is made up of say 2 locks in each leg, that is three segment, try not to extend the other lower segments. Yes it is going to be more difficult to monitor but you can lie on ground and if you are able to control the rest, you are going to be a lot more stable even with current tripod but definitely try the central weight.

Garys1: Hawaii sky! Now I am envying you for more than one reason Aloha and Mahalo.

Oh another very important point now that we have Hawaii discussion.
Events such as Eclipse, happens exactly at the same time all over the world! It is not like New Year event that you will have it in different times around the globe according to your local time. So be careful not to miss it due to time conversion factor (Every time few people miss these events for the same reason). For eg Full eclipse is about Midnight in Los Angeles or Western coast of USA but 3 AM in East and 9PM in Honolulu or as I prefer it in Pipe Line. Damn.... Did I say I hate you Gary? Even you guys don't have to set the alarm clock to see it or loose your sleep...