Ecumenical Full Moon Rising

Dear friends ... and maybe Seanie,

Another successful outing a few hours ago where I turned the tables around by approximately 180 degrees so as to pursue the rising full moon due east and against the Church and Monestary of Agios Sotirios on the northeast outskirts of Athens, Greece and, more specifically, the seaside resort of Oropos. Three days ago I pursued a stunning sunset from the opposing side of the church and as illustrated at the following links: www.perseus.gr/Astro-Solar-Scenes-Oropos-01.htm , www.perseus.gr/Astro-Solar-Scenes-Oropos-02.htm and www.perseus.gr/Astro-Solar-Scenes-Oropos-03.htm .

My planning was absolutely perfect, for I did not have to adjust my set-up not even by one angstrom when I had my initial visual contact of the 15-day old moon rising as the Sun was setting. I will eagerly wait for a future full moon rising when the sun is slightly lower so as to have greater contrast and a darker sky.

For this evening's result, please see:

(1) www.perseus.gr/Astro-Lunar-Scenes-Oropos-01.htm
(2) www.perseus.gr/Astro-Lunar-Scenes-Oropos-02.htm
(3) www.perseus.gr/Astro-Lunar-Scenes-Oropos-03.htm (my personal favourite)

Please ignore the time on the clock visible on one of the towers. It seems to be stuck!

Anthony.

No. 3 is excellent.

Out of curiosity, are these images cropped much?

Michael.

Many thanks Michael.

With ALL of my images, cropping is absolutely .... ZERO !

I customize the field of view in two ways and simultaneously. The first involves the distance from which I will shoot my proposed image and the second involves the focal length I will use.

For example, today I used my FSQ + AP 2x barlow which yields an effective focal length of 1060 mm. The result from the other day involving the setting sun involved my FSQ + TeleVue 2x Big Barlow which yields an effective focal length of 1425 mm.

There is a serious amount of work beforehand with such photos since I need the proper distance, the proper azimuth, the proper altitude, the proper time during the late afternoon, a clear unobstructed view, physical access etc. When all of the pieces fall into place together and at the same time, we produce such results.

I do not know what I enjoy more: the detective and planning work or the actual result itself.

Anthony.

Must take a load of work to plan your images!

Have you compard how the FSQ compares to Canon L lenses of a similar focal length?

Michael.

michaeloconnell wrote:

Must take a load of work to plan your images!

There is some serious running around and, of course, given that I shoot from a distance of 1500 to 5000 meters, the slightest error, for example, in the azimuth will translate to a huge physical error that you cannot make up or correct while the sun/moon is rising/setting. You must research everything very thoroughly and very carefully.

Have you compard how the FSQ compares to Canon L lenses of a similar focal length?

I typically shoot with a focal length of 1060+ mm and I do not even want to think what the analogous Canon L lens would cost.

Michael,

I am going by shear memory and, as a result, I may be way off. However, I think about a year ago I saw a Canon L telephoto lens with 1000mm focal length selling for $100,000 and which was supposedly one of only two ever produced.

I can get the same focal length with my Tak FSQ + Astro-Physics 2x APO barlow.