My First Full Moon Photo: A Journey into the Night Sky

As a budding astrophotographer, the allure of the night sky is undeniable. My latest endeavor? To capture the iconic Full Moon. While I'm still learning the ropes, I wanted to share my first attempt, even with the challenges I faced.

The Setting: Bortle 6 Skies and a Temperamental Atmosphere

My location unfortunately falls under a Bortle 6 sky, which means there's a fair bit of light pollution to contend with. Add to that some particularly "bad atmosphere" on the night of my shoot, and you've got a recipe for less-than-ideal viewing conditions. It's a common hurdle for many aspiring astrophotographers, and a good reminder that patience and persistence are key.

The Gear: A Smartphone and Creative Apps

For this project, I opted for a decidedly mobile setup. My trusty Samsung Galaxy S20 FE was the camera of choice, paired with the Cinema 4K app. This app allowed me to shoot in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second, which is crucial for capturing enough detail for stacking. From the raw footage, I stacked the best 10% of frames to enhance the signal and reduce noise.

The Processing Pipeline: Bringing Out the Detail

Post-processing is where the magic truly happens in astrophotography. I utilized a powerful trio of software to bring my Full Moon image to life:

• PIPP (Planetary Imaging Pre-processor): This tool was instrumental in centering the Moon and preparing the video frames for the next stages.
• AS!4 (AutoStakkert!): Known for its robust stacking capabilities, AS!4 helped me align and stack the individual frames, effectively increasing the signal-to-noise ratio.
• RegiStax 6: Finally, RegiStax 6 was used for sharpening and wavelets processing, bringing out the finer details and textures on the lunar surface.

Reflections on the First Attempt

While I'm still refining my technique and hoping for clearer skies and darker nights, I'm proud of this first Full Moon photograph. It's a testament to the capabilities of modern smartphones and the power of dedicated processing software. Every image is a learning opportunity, and I'm excited to continue this photographic adventure, pushing the boundaries of what's possible with accessible equipment. Stay tuned for more celestial captures!