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Attempted Super Moon

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Basil

Basil

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Last night at about 8:30-8:40 I was standing on the side of I-25, 7 miles line of sight to the top of Sandia Crest where all then radio and TV antenna are located. I had to time the shot exactly in order to get the moon just cresting the top of the hill with the antenna in silhouette. This image was shot with an 840mm lens (Actually a 150-600 with a 1.4x extender) Here is the result if that endeavor.


Super Moon-NS-August 31, 2023-0002.jpg



Once I finished this shooting session, I drove a couple hours north to a location called Cabezon Peak. I spent the night in my car and got up at 5:30 and drove to a spot where I "though" I was going to get the super moon setting on top of Cabezonn peak. Unfortunately, I discovered that the terrain between my location and the peak was obstructing the view. So, I moved up the road a bit until I did have a good view of the peak, but at this location, the moon was not aligned with the peak. So, I made the best of the situation and shote form sunrise images of just the Peak itself, then I shot the super moon as it was setting, but just not over Cabezon. I was still happy with the result even if it wasn't what I was hoping for.

Here is Cabezon Peak just being lot by the morning sun.

Super Moon-NS-August 31, 2023-5279.jpg



Here is a shot of the super moon setting over some smaller hills to the north of Cabezon.

Super Moon-NS-August 31, 2023-5299.jpg
 
I tried a few shots with my cell phone last night.
Even though I held it tightly against a fence the moon was blurry.
There were two palm trees in the pic and they were sharp.
I'm just not that good at taking pics.
 
To explain hyperfocal distance with an optic at +800mm is a bit difficult. Suffice it to say that shot is great. Well planed and executed, sir! The Cabezon shot can be planned for a future time and equally dramatic result with a "normal" full Moon, for sure.

Congratulations for the work and result. (y)
 
DrEntropy said:
To explain hyperfocal distance with an optic at +800mm is a bit difficult. Suffice it to say that shot is great. Well planed and executed, sir! The Cabezon shot can be planned for a future time and equally dramatic result with a "normal" full Moon, for sure.

Congratulations for the work and result. (y)
Click to expand...
Thanks much. Fortunately I cheated and have a DOF calculator that will tell me the Hyperfocal distance. Since I was at 840mm and 7 miles to the antenna, the HFD was about 9633 feet. The antenna were about 36969 feet, so focusing on them meant anything beyond would easily be in “acceptable” focus. The hard part was getting the antenna in focus at that distance and focal length. I set up while there was still “some” daylight and did manual focus by zooming in 10x on the back screen. But there was so much atmospheric distortion that it was hard to tell when things were in focus. On top of that, the slightest touch of the focus ring made the image jump around like a bowl of jello on a washboard road.
 
Brooklands said:
Amazing work Basil. I wish I had the patience to set up and wait like that. I seem to mostly work hand held and spur of the moment.
Click to expand...

A big "me too" on that, Dave.

GregW said:
Great shot. No attempt from me. The marine layer has been coming in every night about 8PM.:(
Click to expand...

Our skies have been nothing but clouds for days now. Just starting to see sunlight this AM.
 
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