Super Blood Wolf Moon, January 20 - 21, 2019
My very first attempt at astrophotography...
Super Moon: When a full moon is at its closest point to Earth’s orbit, making it appear larger than normal.
Blood Moon: A lunar eclipse, during which the sun’s light bends and refracts off the Earth's atmosphere and onto the moon’s surface, making it appear red ("Rayleigh scattering").
Wolf Moon: Native American nickname for the first full moon in January. Likely from cold and hungry wolves howling at the full moon.
This is a composite from two images. The left image is the initial lunar eclipse and was taken at approximately 11:21pm, January 20 here in Northern Virginia. Camera and lens settings for this exposure were f11, 1/125, ISO 200, 300mm.
Right image of the Super Blood Wolf Moon was taken only about 45 minutes later near the height of the eclipse, with the camera settings listed to the right. Note the changes in settings from the two images, to get the right exposure due to the lower light generated by the total lunar eclipse.
It was so cold my hands went a bit numb working these shots. But the next opportunity for a lunar eclipse will not occur until May 2021 and that will not be a super moon. Worth the effort!
*Press L or left click on the photo for best viewing.
Link to ~My best photos~
*** All my photos are © All Rights Reserved. ***
Super Blood Wolf Moon, January 20 - 21, 2019
My very first attempt at astrophotography...
Super Moon: When a full moon is at its closest point to Earth’s orbit, making it appear larger than normal.
Blood Moon: A lunar eclipse, during which the sun’s light bends and refracts off the Earth's atmosphere and onto the moon’s surface, making it appear red ("Rayleigh scattering").
Wolf Moon: Native American nickname for the first full moon in January. Likely from cold and hungry wolves howling at the full moon.
This is a composite from two images. The left image is the initial lunar eclipse and was taken at approximately 11:21pm, January 20 here in Northern Virginia. Camera and lens settings for this exposure were f11, 1/125, ISO 200, 300mm.
Right image of the Super Blood Wolf Moon was taken only about 45 minutes later near the height of the eclipse, with the camera settings listed to the right. Note the changes in settings from the two images, to get the right exposure due to the lower light generated by the total lunar eclipse.
It was so cold my hands went a bit numb working these shots. But the next opportunity for a lunar eclipse will not occur until May 2021 and that will not be a super moon. Worth the effort!
*Press L or left click on the photo for best viewing.
Link to ~My best photos~
*** All my photos are © All Rights Reserved. ***