Purpose:
Observe and photograph total lunar eclipse. Obtain image or video of selenelion
(simultaneous view of sun and eclipsed moon).
Location:
Mt. Laguna, USAF-STS (alt. 6,050'). Conditions: clear, calm winds.
Time:
Begin 19:25 PDT 15 MAY 2003, end 23:17 15 MAY 2003.
Best results:
The selenelion lasted approx. seven minutes. Above images taken within a few seconds of each other.
From our vantage point, the moon rose deep in the penumbral phase. 2003.05.15 18:45:42 70.0-200.0mm @ 70.0mm 1/80 sec, f/2.8 Mode: Av Metering: Center-weighted average Exp comp: +1/3 ISO: 200 AF mode: AI Servo AF Drive: Single frame shooting White balance: Flash Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 1,193KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity
As the moon's luminosity diminished, and magnification was increased, tripod mounting was required. 2003.05.15 19:03:38 1200.0 mm 1/15 sec, f/8.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 400 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous: 0 Self-timer: 10 secs White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 1,158KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity
Ten minutes before totality, a sliver of sunlit lunar surface is still visible. 2003.05.15 19:09:54 1200.0 mm 1/6 sec, f/8.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 400 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous: 0 Self-timer: 10 secs White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 1,148KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity
Five minutes to totality. The moon is almost entirely in the Earth's shadow. 2003.05.15 19:14:57 1200.0 mm 1 sec, f/8.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 400 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous: 0 Self-timer: 10 secs White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 1,397KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity
Totality. The moon is now in the Earth's shadow. 2003.05.15 19:20:00 1200.0 mm 1 sec, f/8.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 400 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous: 0 Self-timer: 10 secs White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 1,275KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity
Totality. Nearby dim stars now come out. The bright-ish star is 5.5 mag HIP76106. 2003.05.15 19:43:20 1200.0 mm 4 sec, f/8.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 400 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous: 0 Self-timer: 10 secs White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 695KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity
End of totality. HIP76106 remains in view - note how its position has changed in relation to the above photo. 2003.05.15 20:14:03 1200.0 mm 4 sec, f/8.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 400 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous: 0 Self-timer: 10 secs White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 833KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity
Partiality. 2003.05.15 20:20:55 1200.0 mm 0.6 sec, f/8.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 400 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous: 0 Self-timer: 10 secs White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 668KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity
Partiality. Exposure is further reduced in order to show detail on the sunlit side. 2003.05.15 20:24:22 1200.0 mm 1/30 sec, f/8.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 400 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous: 0 Self-timer: 10 secs White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 574KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity
Partiality. After reducing focal length to 600mm, exposure and ISO sensitivity is further reduced in order to show detail on the sunlit side. 2003.05.15 20:52:36 600.0 mm 1/250 sec, f/4.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 100 AF mode: AI Servo AF Drive: Continuous: 0 Self-timer: 10 secs White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 291KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity
Partiality. Exposure was increased to record detail in the side still in penumbra. 2003.05.15 20:53:16 600.0 mm 1/4 sec, f/4.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 100 AF mode: AI Servo AF Drive: Continuous: 0 Self-timer: 10 secs White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 636KB Image size: 2464 x 164 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity
Partiality. Interesting effect - a faint ghost image of the sunlit side of the moon is seen. It is an internal reflection of the lens. 2003.05.15 20:54:11 600.0 mm 1 sec, f/4.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 100 AF mode: AI Servo AF Drive: Continuous: 0 Self-timer: 10 secs White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 843KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity
Partiality. Fullness has been almost completely restored. 2003.05.15 21:16:01 1200.0 mm 1/500 sec, f/8.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 400 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous: 0 Self-timer: 10 secs White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 881KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity
Eclipse end. Fullness has been almost completely restored. 2003.05.15 21:33:36 1200.0 mm 1/640 sec, f/8.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 400 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous: 0 Self-timer: 10 secs White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 737KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity
Images are copyright ©2002 Paul C. Martinez & Philip Brents. They may be used for any educational or scientific use - however, please reference or link to this page if you do so.