43% Waxing Crescent Moon, April 2024

Starlog April 14th, 2024, 8:40 p.m. local time

In follow-up to testing out my new telescope, I was able to get outside for another session the evening of April 14th. I continue to be impressed by both the steadiness of the entire telescope assembly and the resulting picture quality. I also bought a Celestron HD Pro Wedge that I have yet to find the time to attach and test, sometime this month weather permitting and on an evening I am free.

In my prior Moon image from April 12th, with illumination 23%, I used 1/120 second exposure. Here at 43%, I decreased the exposure to 1/700 sec. If I had been able to take more images as the Moon approached Full, I likely would have dropped the camera into the 1/2500 sec range.

I plan to start documenting my camera’s settings by Moon phase and illumination, in hopes of building a full set of similarly bright Moon images. It will take trial and error, but may make for fun possibilities like posters and banner images.

The Moon was not the only sky object I photographed on the evening of April 14th. Stay tuned!

Taken with NightCap

Equipment Used:

  • Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25 Schmidt-Cassegrain
  • 235mm aperture
  • 40mm eyepiece
  • No eyepiece filter
  • iPhone 14 Pro
  • Smartphone telescope eyepiece adapter
  • NightCap app on iPhone
  • Apple Watch for NightCap remote shutter
  • f/1.8
  • 1/700 sec exposure
  • ISO 57
  • Focal length: 7mm
  • Touchups in PaintShop Pro and AfterShot Pro

Thank you for taking the time to read my article.

Paul

Paul

I write frequently about astrophotography, technology advice, and my other interests like science fiction. I have over 30 years of experience in computer programming, information technology, and project management.

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