Selene Rising Over Lycabettus Hill

Dear friends,

Something in anticipation of August's "Sturgeon Moon" and which is a sample from 156 images taken over a few minutes involving the 98.5% phase moon rising over Lycabettus Hill ("Hill of the Wolves" ) in central Athens: www.perseus.gr/Astro-Lunar-Scenes-Lycabettus-02.htm .

The image was taken from a distance of 1380 meters away and across the National Archaeological Museum of Athens so as to have a balanced apparent diameter for the rising moon and the Church of St George which sits atop Mt Lycabettus.

This effort was VERY tricky because the moon must be imaged when it is 8 degrees above the horizon owing to the 280 meter height of Lycabettus Hill. As a result, all of my previous work involving the proper timing of the rising full moon against well-known Greek landmarks goes out the window, namely with the sun being between 4 and 6 degrees below the horizon. For this effort, it was necessary to shoot when the sun was very close to the horizon and, in fact, just below it so as to have the necessary balance between the brighter than usual full moon owing to its eight-degree altitude and the foreground.

The area atop Lycabettus Hill is a very popular tourist attraction and where the modus operandi is to view the setting sun (yes, they were looking at my direction since the setting sun was towards me and behind me). Since this image was taken one to two minutes after the sun had set, some of the tourists visible in the image have turned their attention to the rising moon in the opposite direction.

Anthony.

Very nice Anto, you really got the whole "huge round thing made of cheese" there! I would have thought you would have removed the foreground foliage from the shot. I think it's too out-of-focus to be of benefit.

Seanie.

Stunning!

Gents,

Thanks for the kind words. Glad you like it!

As for the misplaced tree, Seanie, it was at a distance and I could not do much to get it outside the field of view. In fact, the shot was taken between two trees (at a distance) and this was the only available "slot" to get the shot off.

I have been working on this result for some time and everything came together yesterday with respect to azimuth, altitude, phase, location of the sun when the moon was at the particular location and my imaging spot between the two distant trees.

One small problem I encountered was the small vibrations on the road due to the passing cars and buses. In fact, a number of the latter images with an increased exposure time show some blurring due to these slight vibrations.

Here is a view from 180 degrees in the opposite direction and involving the setting 23-hr new moon late June: www.perseus.gr/Astro-Lunar-Scenes-Lycabettus-New-Moon-23hr.htm .

Anthony.

Anthony - the first image is very good - but I'm *really* bowled over when its complimented by the second image with the new moon set 180 degrees from the moon position in the first shot.

Genius Anthony - You have a loud applaud from me!

Mark

Fantastic work as always Anthony!
The second image is particularly impressive!

Michael.