Capturing the Moon at Dusk: A Star Adventurer 2i First Light
There's something truly captivating about seeing the Moon emerge as the sun dips below the horizon. I recently had the opportunity to capture the Moon at dusk, and it turned out to be a fantastic test of new gear and a valuable learning experience!
The Setup
For this celestial pursuit, I employed the following equipment:
- Camera: Nikon D800
- Lens: Tamron SP AF 200-500mm F/5-6.3
- Mount: Star Adventurer 2i
Acquisition Details
The image was captured at a focal length of 500mm with the following settings:
- Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec
- Aperture: f/8
- ISO: 200
The Process: A Tale of Two Attempts
My first attempt with the Star Adventurer 2i was unfortunately thwarted by an unexpected cloud cover that rolled in just as I was setting up my equipment. It's a common challenge in astrophotography, and a reminder to always have a backup plan (or at least patience!).
However, for my second attempt, conditions were much more favorable, and I was able to successfully capture a short timelapse of the Moon. This timelapse revealed a subtle movement of the Moon in each frame. This is a crucial insight for me as I prepare for an upcoming lunar eclipse – it highlights the importance of refining my polar alignment technique to ensure sharp, tracking-accurate shots.
Post-Processing
The image underwent several post-processing steps to enhance its detail:
- Added contrast
- Significant cropping and sharpening
- Denoising applied specifically to the background to preserve lunar detail
The Result
Here's the shot of the Moon at dusk:
I'm excited to continue practicing with the Star Adventurer 2i and look forward to sharing more astrophotography adventures with you all!
Happy stargazing!
