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Digital cameras

Includes discussion of web cams and digital video imaging
capturing the moon and pleiades
Last post 04-03-2008 06:10 PM by tkerr. 1 replies.
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  • 04-03-2008 04:52 PM

    • kooolbeenz
    • Joined on 12-28-2007
    • Mineral Point, WI
    • Posts 38

    capturing the moon and pleiades

     I was just curious if anyone has any tips on taking pictures of the moon and pleiades on the 8th. It seems that the moon will be causing a little more light to shine on the cluster ( thank you captain obvious) and i'm just using a nikon coolpix 8700 which has variable ISO's, 'film' speeds and exposure times.  so, anyone out there that has a few tips, it would be much appreciated.

    Signature
    Nexstar 4
    Coolpix 8700
    A quiet hill top to view the heavens
  • 04-03-2008 06:10 PM In reply to

    • tkerr
    • Joined on 01-02-2004
    • Coastal North Carolina USA.
    • Posts 8,302

    Re: capturing the moon and pleiades

    Cut and paste editing.  

    With most any camera that would be a challenging combination. The Moon only requires exposures of about 1/250th of a second while the Pleiades will require more just to get the brightest stars, not to speak of the smaller stars or the nebulousity within the cluster. 

    If you had a Web cam you might be able to get both the moon and the stars, (no nebula). What most experienced photographers will do is take multiple exposures to capture the cluster. The Moon will appear way over exposed. Then take a single shot or a couple shots of the moon at the correct exposure for that so not to overexpose it. The cluster will be under exposed in those.  Then if you have the right software you can stack the frames of the cluster then extract the over exposed moon and insert the moon with the correct exposure..  This is a common practice with the planets in order to reveal their natural satellites orbeting them. It is also a common practice on objects such as the Great Orion Nebula where you have regions of varying illuminosities.

     

    Have A Nice ____________

    Signature
    Tim Kerr
    Healthy mind - healthy body - healthy earth.
    Ad astra
    Ad eundum quo nemo ante iit

    Jacksonville, NC.

    Equipment:
    Orion XT10 Classic, Celestron C6 R-GT w/updated CG5 GT mount, C80ED
    Canon 350D, Phillips SPC900NC
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