Moon Tracking Question

[BlackRockArt]

Hi guys,

I hope this is not a dumb question, but I really need help with moon photos.

I have been reading up the forums on tracking the moon with an iOptron Sky Guider Pro; the instruction manual has a "lunar" option, yet many people say the moon is not trackable. My question is: is it possible to track the moon with a 400mm lens for four hours? It does not have to be dead center precision, as long as it stays in the photo frame, I will be happy.

Included is my end-of-year Milky Way photo taken last night.

Thanks in advance.

Oliver

MilkwayDavenport45CropVenusMulkywayFB by Black Rock Art

 

[Ben Egbert]

Nice Milky way. I like the exposure here. Most milky ways are too dark for me, and shooting into the moon is really difficult, you did good. I can't answer your question and for that matter I don't know why you would do that?

 

[AlanLichty]

Great MW shot - I like the point of view for the tops of the bridge towers poking up out of the fog.

I am not much for astro photography so I'm afraid I can't help with your moon tracking query.

 

[Mike Lewis]

First of all, really love the image posted above - the long exposure treatment for the Milky Way works on the water too.

The Moon can be tracked, as long as you have a tracker that can run at the lunar tracking rate, which your Skyguider Pro does support. It is like anything else though, how well it tracks is based not only on how accurately your tracking device maintains the proper rate over time but also on how accurately you align your system. I have not tried tracking the moon for such a long duration. I did track the Sun for a number of hours during the last total eclipse here in North America, using a very expensive mount. It did well, but I still had to do some tweaking on it from time to time. Due to being daytime I was not able to get exactly aligned. I also think the solar system objects, not being aligned to the Celestial Poles of the Earth, probably would tend to drift out of the frame anyway over a long period of time.

ML

 

[JimFox]

Love your end of the year photo Oliver!!! That’s a dream shot for me with the Golden Gate Bridge. My problem is I don’t get up there enough.

When are you thinking on trying this? I don’t recall trying to use my Sky Guider Pro for the moon yet. I usually just handhold my shots of it or if I am doing video of it I will Mount it on a tripod. At 600mm though it is constant adjusting to keep it in the frame.

Are you thinking about this because of the upcoming Lunar Eclipse?

 

[BlackRockArt]

Love your end of the year photo Oliver!!! That’s a dream shot for me with the Golden Gate Bridge. My problem is I don’t get up there enough.

When are you thinking on trying this? I don’t recall trying to use my Sky Guider Pro for the moon yet. I usually just handhold my shots of it or if I am doing video of it I will Mount it on a tripod. At 600mm though it is constant adjusting to keep it in the frame.

Are you thinking about this because of the upcoming Lunar Eclipse?

Jim, the upcoming Lunar Eclipse is a very long event, I think it's about 4 hours? I have done manual exposures in the past but find it too tiring. I will be happy to adjust the lens once an hour; so I will try the automated method this time.

First of all, really love the image posted above - the long exposure treatment for the Milky Way works on the water too.

The Moon can be tracked, as long as you have a tracker that can run at the lunar tracking rate, which your Skyguider Pro does support. It is like anything else though, how well it tracks is based not only on how accurately your tracking device maintains the proper rate over time but also on how accurately you align your system. I have not tried tracking the moon for such a long duration. I did track the Sun for a number of hours during the last total eclipse here in North America, using a very expensive mount. It did well, but I still had to do some tweaking on it from time to time. Due to being daytime I was not able to get exactly aligned. I also think the solar system objects, not being aligned to the Celestial Poles of the Earth, probably would tend to drift out of the frame anyway over a long period of time.

ML

Mike, thank you very much. I am studying the polar alignment, the 400mm lens should give me reasonable reach, another camera will be set up for the foreground. The iOptron Pro is the most portable mount I can carry out to the field; I will do a few test runs to see how it goes.

Oliver

 

[Jameel Hyder]

That’s a very nice night image. The moon was handled very well.

 

[JimFox]

Jim, the upcoming Lunar Eclipse is a very long event, I think it's about 4 hours? I have done manual exposures in the past but find it too tiring. I will be happy to adjust the lens once an hour; so I will try the automated method this time.



Mike, thank you very much. I am studying the polar alignment, the 400mm lens should give me reasonable reach, another camera will be set up for the foreground. The iOptron Pro is the most portable mount I can carry out to the field; I will do a few test runs to see how it goes.

Oliver

The SkyGuider Pro is the best of the lesser expensive tracking mounts. I use mine at 600mm and occasionally at 850mm and it tracks great. So you will be fine I am sure at 400mm. And while I have never used mine in the Lunar setting, for as great as it works I am sure it will do fine. And I also in all my research never heard anyone say that the Lunar mode on it didn't work.

What day is the Lunar Eclipse? I remember reading about it, but don't recall the day.