My First Lunar Capture: A Stunning Crescent Moon!
It's a momentous occasion in the world of amateur astronomy! Today, I'm thrilled to share my very first photograph of the Moon, taken through my SkyWatcher Heritage 130P telescope. Capturing this waxing crescent felt like a significant achievement, and I'm incredibly proud of how it turned out.
The Celestial Subject
On August 29th, the Moon graced our skies in a beautiful crescent phase, approximately 36.3% illuminated and 6.1 days old. Its estimated distance from Earth was a mere 403,600 km, presenting a clear and sharp target for my lens.
The Technical Journey
This image is the result of a dedicated process, involving several steps to bring out the best details of our lunar neighbor:
- Telescope: SkyWatcher Heritage 130P
- Camera: Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
- Acquisition & Processing:
- Pre-processing was done using PIPP.
- A stack of 111 frames out of 222 was created using AutoStakkert!4.
- Sharpening was performed in RegiStax 6.
- Basic edits were finalized in FireAlpaca.
The entire process was a learning curve, especially the trial and error involved in getting a clean stack from AutoStakkert! It's a testament to patience and persistence that this shot came to fruition.
A New Chapter in Space Exploration
This first successful attempt at lunar photography marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for me. I can't wait to explore more of the night sky and share my discoveries with you all. Stay tuned for more celestial adventures!
