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Spaced-Out Challenge: Snap a Spectacular Shot of the Supermoon!

Welcome again to the Spaced-Out Challenge! Whether you have a question about equipment, a new astronomical discovery you want to expand on, or just want to kick back and enjoy the cosmos above, come one come all on our weekly astronomical journey.

This week, I'll show you how to get a great shot of the supermoon and run down the sadly washed-out Perseids.

The Supermoon Illusion

The moon, closer to the earth now than for the rest of the year, will appear slightly larger, but the hype around it is based on images of the moon rising behind various objects on the horizon.

Sky and Telescope has a great explainer on the weird visual phenomena with non-plaid charts and graphics. The gist of why it looks so big at the horizon?

One theory claims that our brain perceives the distance to the sky directly overhead as closer than the distance to the horizon...Psychologists have also suggested that an overhead Moon looks smaller because it’s surrounded by empty space, while a Moon near the horizon appears larger juxtaposed against trees and buildings.

The why and very un-sciency hype aside, the photos are fantastic and the illusion never fails to wow. So, how can you impress your friends and family with a great shot?

Super Pictures of the Supermoon

Think a shot like this:

is too hard to pull off for the novice?

It is easier than you think.

Requirements:

SLR camera and tripod

OR

any smartphone with a half-decent camera / any half-decent camera
&
a telescope

1. Download Stellarium on your smartphone

Go on your phone's app store and find the fantastic astronomy app Stellarium. The app features a sensor control button which will allow you to get a view of the sky in any direction you are pointing, and the ability to scroll through time, forwards and backwards. These will be handy in the next step.

2. Location and pre-planning

The moon rises in the East, so you'll want to position yourself where the moon will actually line up with the object you want it to loom out of/over. This is where your app now comes in handy. Open it up and move the time and date to where the display shows the moon coming over the horizon.

Now that you've got the moment in time where the moon rises, turn on your sensor control, and note where the moon in the sky will be appearing in relation to the foreground object you want in your shot.

Remember to keep in mind what instrument you are using for imaging the moon, and distance yourself accordingly! If you are using a telescope, you want to make sure the object in the foreground is still far enough away to resolve well.

3. Prepping your instrument (if using a telescope)

This part is important. If you will be taking shots afocally (in front of the eyepiece), and you have a camera mount or universal smartphone adapter, make sure that the eyepiece you will be using and the adapter are all lined up well ahead of showtime. Also, be sure to use a moon filter to cut down on the overwhelming glare. Many smartphone owners frustrate themselves attempting shots, without realizing the sunlight reflecting off of the moons surface is too much for their camera. A variable filter is best, because you can adjust how much light you want, but even a cheap $15 Celestron from the local shop will do fine.

4. Set your alarm and let your instrument breathe (if using a reflecting telescope)

The Stellarium app will show you the moment where the moon begins to rise. Give yourself an extra hour ahead of time to have everything in place, and for your telescope to achieve thermal equilibrium (especially important with a dobsonian-mounted reflector).

5. Snap away, and share with us!

Next week, we will be posting the best shots of tonight's Supermoon. To submit yours, tweet it at @conartcritic or use the email at the end of this post.

***

The 2014 Perseid Meteor Shower

The Supermoon unfortunately puts a damper on this year's shower, with the glare eliminating all but the brightest shooting stars. Still, tis the season for fireballs, and the Perseids are reliable in spitting out quite a few. Here's a rundown on the show.

What are the Perseids?
The fireball champion of the annual meteor showers:

These are also one of the oldest recorded annual showers, with records from Chinese astronomers documenting the event back to 36 AD.

When are they this year?
Right now! The Perseids are spotted throughout late July into August, but peak in the early morning hours of August 12th.

What do I need to see them?
Avoid stray lights from ruining your night vision.
Grab a chair and some coffee.
Look up and enjoy.
This year's moon means traveling to the wilderness is a bit pointless, but an area free of glaring light will bring out a few more.

HELP! I don't know jack about the constellations! Where do I look?
Just look up! While they will seem to radiate from Perseus, you don't really need to know where Perseus even is in the sky. The brightest will streak straight across your stellar dome.

Here is a helpful chart pinpointing the "radiant", Perseus, and the more familiar constellations Cassiopeia and Andromeda we have discussed previously:

(pulled from last year's review)

Again, the moon light dampens things, but seeing a good dozen dazzlers shouldn't be too difficult.

***
The full Beginner's Buyer's Guide, our Comet Guide (featuring additional grab-and-go telescopes), and any other edition you're looking for can be found in the master index of all Spaced-Out Challenge threads here, but of course you can always inquire about binoculars, telescopes, and all the rest in the comments.
As always, if you have astrophotography, product recommendations, or astronomy news you'd like to see on a future Spaced-Out Challenge, email me at theoneandonlyfinn (at) gmail.com, or tweet me @conartcritic.

If you have any more questions about your new optics, feel free to ask below.
Until next time, clear skies to you, and keep looking up!