Moon on March 19
Here is an image of the moon from this evening at 7:41 pm MDT. Lunation is 0.96 days. I was able to spot the moon through thin clouds and got off a few shots before the clouds covered it a couple minutes later. Exposures are not correct, I have lots to learn about photographing young moons and sunsets (such as it is not a good idea when its cloudy).
Sky was mostly cloudy, 10 mph wind, temperature around 65 °F. Canon Xti camera with 18-55 EFS lens at 50mm, ASA 400, and 0.8 sec exposure.
March 21st, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Hi Vern,
Nice grab! Those are some thick, ominous clouds below. Was the contrast greater than what appears in the photo. Look forward to more of the crescent photos if you keep up the chase.
peter
March 21st, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Hi Peter,
I saw it visually with no problem naked eye. Contrast was much greater. I cropped the photo to reduce the brightness range. Also, since I had over-exposed the shot, I decreased brightness and increased the mid-tone brightness to try bring out the moon a little (without much success). Clearly I need to do lots of practice before the crescent next month.
If the weather cooperates we might be able to spot the crescent just under 15 hrs past new next month here in Colorado.
March 22nd, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Hi Vern,
Wish you lots of luck in April. Try for a world-class bracket interval ~ 37h24m. I think you may have a really good opportunity. The old crescent at sunrise on the 16 Apr should be very easy. At sunset on 17 Apr the ecliptic is very steep and with Moon north of it, the crescent will almost perpendicular to the horizon. This will allow you more time to seek the Moon as the sun sets.
In the Astronomical Calendar, Guy Ottewell reports that Stephen J. O’Meara holds the naked eye record of 35h 42m and the binocular record goes to Don Pearce 35h 14 m. You wouldn’t be too far from that. Hope the Mother Nature lets you try.
peter