Witnessing Totality: A Stunning Lunar Eclipse from Terengganu
Recently, a spectacular total lunar eclipse graced the skies, and lucky for us, it was beautifully captured from Terengganu. Despite initial worries about cloud cover, the skies cleared just in time to witness the breathtaking phenomenon in its full glory.
This incredible shot was taken from the vicinity of Kusza Observatory at Unisza, which hosted a public viewing event. The persistent clouds almost threatened to spoil the show, but thankfully, they parted approximately five minutes before the end of totality, allowing for this stunning capture.
A Detailed View of Totality
What makes this image particularly impressive is the remarkable detail achieved. The astrophotographer employed a technique of stitching together four panels, necessitated by the significant zoom required for such a close-up view of the eclipse. This was a first-time capture of a lunar eclipse for the artist, who expressed surprise at how much darker the moon appeared during totality compared to its usual full moon state.
Behind the Scenes
Curious about how this shot was brought to life? You can explore the behind-the-scenes process and raw video footage at the following link:
Equipment and Acquisition
The capture utilized the following impressive equipment:
- Telescope: Skywatcher Flextube 200p
- Camera: ZWO ASI585MC
- Filter: Svbony UV/IR Cut Filter
The acquisition details were as follows:
- Gain: 600 (100%)
- Exposure: 22.91ms
Processing Workflow
Bringing this image to its full potential involved a multi-stage processing workflow using specialized software:
- PIPP
- Autostackert!4
- imppg
- Microsoft ICE
- Adobe Photoshop
This successful capture serves as a testament to dedicated observation, skillful astrophotography techniques, and the beauty of celestial events like lunar eclipses.
