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Astrophotography during a full moon?

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#1 kowspot2000

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Posted 03 July 2012 - 06:37 PM

Hey Everyone!

So I've only tried imaging during a full moon once before and it did not turn out well. After 30 seconds of exposure all of the skies would be incredibly washed out.

Well here in Oregon I've been waiting for a clear day for weeks now and of course it's a full moon tonight! I would like to go out tonight and snap some pictures, but I'm incredibly pessimistic that all my shots will be ruined by the moon. I read that it is sometimes ok if you image in the opposite section of the sky as the moon (to reduce light pollution) Do any of you have techniques/tips/suggestions about imaging during a full moon? I'd love to get some shots tonight! :roflmao: :question:

#2 terry59

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Posted 03 July 2012 - 06:48 PM

Hmm...point away from the moon. Image early or late when the moon is closer to the horizon. Do what I'm about to do and get an Ha filter....

#3 tejasdragon

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Posted 03 July 2012 - 07:16 PM

I finally got my baader MPCC last week and this
is the first somewhat clear night we have had, I
will be out. I do image under a moon on a regular
basis though, that is when I hit the bright objects
away form the moon. No point wasting a dark night
on something bright , or a bright night on something
dark.

Henry

#4 Orion58

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Posted 03 July 2012 - 08:05 PM

Well, I tried it a few days ago. I needed more data on the Fireworks Galaxy 9NGC 6946) so I got everything set up, autoguiding working and as I viewed the first 5 subs, I knew I was wasting my time. I couldn't see any detail in the galaxy, just the core. SO, I swung up to a globular (M56) and got some decent data. As M56 is relatively close to the moon tonight, perhaps try either M13 or M92, both globulars, which are high in the sky.

I also went out last night to simply observe and the moon was SO bright the only object I could enjoy was Saturn.

Good luck - I'm going to get some sleep tonight... :grin:

#5 CounterWeight

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Posted 03 July 2012 - 09:12 PM

You could try and get some images of Luna?

#6 Hikari

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Posted 03 July 2012 - 09:53 PM

Why not go out and enjoy yourself. Your skies are better than a lot of folks living in cities even with the full moon. And you can learn to image under these conditions.

#7 jerryyyyy

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Posted 03 July 2012 - 10:04 PM

Try M13 and/or I believe M92, GC to the north... no problema...

#8 dhaval

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Posted 03 July 2012 - 10:58 PM

As others have pointed out - the best will be globs away from the Moon. I have a clear night as well with a little wind, but I am staying in tonight!!

Dhaval

#9 Wouter D'hoye

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Posted 04 July 2012 - 12:51 AM

There are a number of otpions.

As already mentioned, why not take a peek at the moon. We often get so hooked with our little field of astrophotography that we often lose touch with the simple things. Just enjoy yourself :)

Another option is to do objects that don't require the darkest skies, open and globular clusters are good examples.

A last option is H-alpha imaging. It will not get the optimal results but still much better than luminance imaging.

Kind regards,

Wouter.

#10 zerro1

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Posted 04 July 2012 - 01:30 AM

:grin: Or

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#11 CounterWeight

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Posted 04 July 2012 - 04:16 AM

Just in from some visual and we are having a very fine night in these parts! If you are grabbing photons away from the moonglow it's as good as we've had this year. I kept thinking 'finally!'... six months in and finally...

kowspot - what do you think?

We've been so starved I haven't even thought of putting my CCD back on the scope as it's been hit and miss just for eyeball. Now that I have the iEQ45, all will soon change. FS will be on perm visual until I get a large goto Dob/newt... and maybe even then?

Guess I am going to get some sleep as tomorrow will be a busy day/eve/night.

#12 Magellan

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Posted 04 July 2012 - 06:08 AM

Yes you can, I shot M51 last weekend. It turned out pretty good. ISO800 5min subs was washed out but I shot at ISO400 and it worked! Don't knock those lower ISOs. Great for city shooting too! Even though it may be a bit washed out, the data should be there. As long as DSS can see stars :|

#13 corpusse

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Posted 04 July 2012 - 06:56 AM

Pointing away from the moon makes little to no difference when you have high levels of light pollution imo.

I live in a white zone for light pollution so I don't let the moon bother me unless the object is very close to it. Shot this over the last couple of nights.

Posted Image

#14 jerryyyyy

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Posted 04 July 2012 - 11:30 AM

Pointing away from the moon makes little to no difference when you have high levels of light pollution imo.

I live in a white zone for light pollution so I don't let the moon bother me unless the object is very close to it. Shot this over the last couple of nights.


Here is a challenge for you: UGC 10822 - Draco Dwarf Galaxy

This is to the north. I see you have a C11. I have a C8 and cannot seem to cut through my LP. Another one of us nearby here has the C6. Will your extra 3" get to this dull target????

#15 kbastro

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Posted 04 July 2012 - 05:06 PM

use a Ha filter and shoot luminous subs till moon is gone,,,

like I did on Sunday night
kb

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#16 drksky

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Posted 05 July 2012 - 07:48 AM

hAlpha - I took this one Tuesday night with the full moon within about 60 degrees of my target.
Posted Image

#17 jerryyyyy

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Posted 05 July 2012 - 10:19 AM

For the record, I doubled my subs last night to 68x300sec for UGC 10822 - Draco Dwarf Galaxy to no avail. Just too dull for me where I live, moon or not.

#18 Hilmi

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Posted 05 July 2012 - 02:52 PM

What dslr shows not, mono ccd does. At least thats my personal experience

#19 jerryyyyy

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Posted 05 July 2012 - 03:59 PM

What dslr shows not, mono ccd does. At least thats my personal experience


I still have that STT-8300M on order.... :jump:

#20 oldstargazer

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Posted 05 July 2012 - 09:41 PM

It just so happened that I got my O-III filter in the mail on Tuesday and used it last night to image M57 and it turned a washed out sky into a great looking Ring. I didn't get much data on it since I was mainly out to check out my just purchased cpc11. I had it and my old standby c8 out and was comparing views and thought why not give this filter a shot and wow it really made a big difference on this target. Can't use it for some targets though. Could not get a thing out of M51 with it installed.
So anyway try different filters and just see what you can get. Experimentation can be lots of fun.
This is the ring from the cpc11 which I have to collimate as I saw last night so the sharpness isn't what it should be. Hope to get out tomorrow night and get it collimated to see what this big heavy thing can do.

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#21 Hilmi

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Posted 06 July 2012 - 03:32 AM

Jerry,

So do I, unfortunately still havnt found a buyer for my st402me which I was hoping will help me fund the STT.

#22 jerryyyyy

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Posted 06 July 2012 - 09:11 AM

Jerry,

So do I, unfortunately still havnt found a buyer for my st402me which I was hoping will help me fund the STT.


I would not worry as "early adopters" like myself may have regrets... I'll soon find out how it actually works in the field... It is a big investment.

#23 kowspot2000

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Posted 06 July 2012 - 03:26 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! I decided to just go out and do some visual observing and stare at Luna :) We've had beautiful clear nights here lately just wish I could do some imaging haha. Time to get some sleep :)

#24 zerro1

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Posted 06 July 2012 - 07:16 PM

I was able to get some Ha last night with the moon up.
12nm clip-in on my 1000D + AT65EDQ

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#25 oldstargazer

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Posted 06 July 2012 - 07:24 PM

Nice Ha capture of the North America nebula! I finally got an O-III filter and next month the Ha is on that budget. Nice to see what it can do.


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