How Can You Capture Stunning Moon Photos with a Remote Control?

  • Context: Stargazing 
  • Thread starter Thread starter PhysicsEnjoyer31415
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around techniques for capturing high-quality photographs of the moon using various equipment, including telescopes and smartphones. Participants share their experiences, equipment choices, and tips for overcoming challenges associated with moon photography.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note the effectiveness of capturing lunar features with minimal equipment, specifically mentioning the mare (seas) in their photos.
  • There is a discussion about the use of a Celestron PowerSeeker 50AZ refractor for moon photography.
  • Participants share experiences with different cameras, including a Canon PowerShot SX510 HS, highlighting the challenges of overexposure when photographing a full moon.
  • One participant suggests experimenting with photographing the moon during smaller phases, like the first and last quarter, to capture more details along the terminator line.
  • Advice is given regarding smartphone photography, including the use of manual control camera apps for Android and the recommendation of a smartphone/telescope adapter for stability.
  • Participants discuss the difficulties of handheld shooting and suggest using a remote control for taking photos to minimize shake.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the challenges of moon photography and share similar tips, but there are no explicit resolutions or consensus on the best methods or equipment.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes various assumptions about equipment capabilities and personal experiences, which may not apply universally. Specific recommendations for apps and adapters depend on individual preferences and device compatibility.

Who May Find This Useful

Astronomy enthusiasts, photographers interested in astrophotography, and individuals looking to improve their moon photography techniques may find this discussion beneficial.

PhysicsEnjoyer31415
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TL;DR
These are some photos of the moon from back in January end , i apologize for the quality i do not have appropriate gear for astrophotography , i only have a cheap telescope. This is a full moon , the cuts in the photos are due to my hand moving during photographing because i work on a mobile setup :( but enjoy . Thank you
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Given your minimal rig, aside from the final photo, you caught the mare (seas) quite well.
 
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Klystron said:
Given your minimal rig, aside from the final photo, you caught the mare (seas) quite well.
Thank you👍
 
Did you use a refractor?
 
Drakkith said:
Did you use a refractor?
Yes a celstron powerseeker 50az refractor
 
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Here's a collage of photos I took a while back with my old Cannon PowerShot SX510 HS (30x zoom)
moon_collage.JPG
 
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Janus said:
Here's a collage of photos I took a while back with my old Cannon PowerShot SX510 HS (30x zoom)
View attachment 346272
Nice
 
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PhysicsEnjoyer31415 said:
Yes a celestron powerseeker 50az refractor
Awesome start :smile: photographing a full moon is difficult being so bright the image gets over exposed as you can see and that makes seeing details difficult.
do some experimenting with smaller phases of the moon, like with first and last quarter. It's then much easier to photo the crater details, particularly along terminator line ( the line between the lit and unlit parts)

eg ....
1717279856047.png
 
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PhysicsEnjoyer31415 said:
This is a full moon , the cuts in the photos are due to my hand moving during photographing because i work on a mobile setup :( but enjoy .

@davenn gave a good suggestion above, and I'd like to chime in too... :smile:

1) Which type of phone are you using (i.e. Android or Iphone)?

If you use an Android phone I would suggest a camera app that can be set manually (i.e. mainly manual control of ISO, shutter speed (exposure time)) like this app: Open Camera.

My understanding is that the default camera app of many modern smartphones have manual control, but if yours don't, the Open Camera app is a good one. For Iphones I have no suggestion.

2) Handheld shooting with phones and telescopes is really difficult (I know from experience :biggrin:).

To get a reasonably stable setup, I would suggest the following:

Getting a smartphone/telescope adapter. There are several types like (a) this and (b) this. I think version (a) is better than (b) (at least in my experience).

And when shooting with an adapter, I would shoot with either a delayed capture (i.e. a timer set to a couple of seconds, in order to eliminate the shake from touching the phone/setup. Or use a remote control for photo shooting (there are small, cheap ones available, one example here).

Cheers!
 
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