Moon Through Canadian Fire Smoke, Late June 2023

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Last night I saw the setting Moon very late. It was red, like eclipse red, and it wasn’t very near the horizon, plus the sky was hours past Dusk. Given the state of the air quality these last three days, I attributed the unique color to the Canadian fire smoke descending onto us poor Midwestern folk.

Air quality was slightly better this following day, so I had hoped it could make for an interesting Moon photograph tonight. Though the Moon was faintly pinkish at Sunset, there was little alteration from a “normal” Moon in the hours after. Still, I had my telescope out and iPhone ready, so I took pictures, the best one posted here.

Equipment Used:

• 127mm Mak-Cass telescope
• 23mm eyepiece
• No eyepiece filter
• iPhone 14 Pro
• Smartphone telescope eyepiece adapter
• NightCap app on iPhone
• f/1.8
• 1/350 sec exposure
• ISO 57
• Focal length: 7mm
• Touchups in PaintShop Pro and AfterShot Pro

Thank you for taking the time to read my article.