The Moon through binoculars in November 2014.

This is the Moon captured by mobile phone and binoculars bi 7x40. I found these images of the Moon interesting, shining through the branches of trees with leaves here and there, but also because of the background color that gives them an artistic touch.

Optical Instrument: BI Binoculars 7x40
Camera: 8MP HTC Sensation XE
Mount: no
Filter: no
Date: 11/06/2014
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Processing and editing: FastStone

Read more »

Luna on Black Sea horizon

I was at sea for a few days. I did tanned on the beach, but did not forgotten the pictures. I have caught it when the Moon was full, so I took some pictures at long exposures up to 30 seconds, with the Nikon D80 DSLR mounted on a tripod. And this is what it came out.

Camera: Nikon D80, 18-55 mm kit
Photo Mode: 10 mp
Filter: no
Date: 23/07/2013
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Edit: FastStone

Read more »

Moon rising June 23 2013

So Super Moon showed with no telescope, photographed with Nikon D80 DSLR from my balcony. I have used different exposures, up to 3 seconds.

Camera: Nikon D80, 18-55 mm kit
Photo Mode: 10 mp
Filter: no
Date: 23/06/2013
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Edit: FastStone

Read more »

Moon through binoculars and cell phone camera

These pictures were taken through military binoculars IOR 7x40 and 8MP camera of HTC Sensation XE. There is not much, but for those who want to try this method, so showed the Moon.

Device: HTC Sensation XE
Photo Mode: 3264x1840, 8 MP
Zoom: no
Filter: no
Date: 06/18/2013
Location: Sai, Satu Mare, Romania
Edit: FastStone

Read more »

Partial eclipse of the Moon without a telescope. Video and images.

The above images, capture the partial eclipse of the Moon on 25 April 2013, pictures taken without an astronomical telescope, but with a camcorder zoomed to maximum 32x (optical zoom).

Below is the video from which I have extracted the captures above.

In the images, we see how the northwest corner of the Moon is "eaten" by the Earth's shadow, but in reality is a larger area is shaded, about half of the Moon, because if it was not so, the Moon would have the same luminosity as its east side.

Device: Sony CX-130
Video Mode: Full HD 1920x1080 progressive
Zoom: 32x
Filter: no
Date: 04/25/2013
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Edit: FastStone




To see video of the eclipse through a telescope, see article Video by telescope Partial eclipse of the Moon April 25, 2013 .
To see DSLR photos from the eclipse through the telescope, see article Partial Lunar eclipse April 25, 2013. Images with Nikon D80 DSLR and the telescope .

Read more »

Halo around the Sun shot in May 2012

A halo, or a perihelic ring, is an optical phenomenon produced by ice crystals that create an arc of colored or white ring, or spots in the sky. Many are close to the Sun or Moon. Halo may form around artificial light too, when the weather is very cold, and ice crystals called diamond dust are floating in the nearby air.

A halo is produced by ice crystals in cirrus clouds at 5-10 km height, that are in the upper troposphere. The special shape and orientation of crystals are responsible for the type of halo observed. Light is reflected and refracted by ice crystals, in colors, because of the dispersion. Crystals act as prisms and mirrors, reflecting and refracting sunlight between their faces, sending shafts of light in specific directions.




Sun halo observation in May 2012
Video: Victor Lupu
Optical: 30x optical zoom Sony CX130
Mount: no
Telrscope: no
Filter: no
Date: 12/05/2012
Location: Baia Mare, Romania

Up are video captures from the video. Contrasts were modified in Faststone.

Read more »

Astronomy video without telescope Moon shot at 30x zoom.

The video captures above are made ​​in Sony Vegas 10 and below in Splash player.

This video is the opposite of another video (Astronomy without telescope the Sun through video camera and solar filter.), astronomically speaking.

I will use this camera more on the Sun and Moon, and maybe I will try to enhance power magnification with some lenses.
My 8 inch reflector telescope from Celestron, amd a Super Plossl 20 mm eyepiece, magnifies 50x and the Moon appears at about the same size in the camera although the camera has a less magnification of just 30x.

   The pictures came out clear, although I shot through the window (the distant pictures shows reflection of the Moon in the glass). In the first image, the Moon was filmed in the 'auto, mode and around it are thin clouds colors with shades of brown and blue wich make the view magnificent.
  The second 31, starts to a lower exposure to see the sharp lunar features , and even with large craters on it, as Aristarchus and Tycho ray system's as well.

Above are captures from this clip, and are edited in FastStone.



Video: Victor Lupu
Optics: No telescope
Device: Sony CX130 to 30x optical zoom
Mode: progressive 1920x1080
Filter: no
Date: 07/02/2012
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Processing and editing: Sony Vegas 10 captures made with Splash player and Sony Vegas 10.

Read more »