Christmas Full Moon, December 25, 2015 … It was indeed a magical moon when I was finally able to capture this shot, after many, many attempts. Trees visible without washing out the bella luna, it was a difficult feat indeed. Perseverance pays.
Category: Astrophotography
Luna Noel – En Las Estrellas
The last full moon of 2015 made her debut Saturday night, December 25th, and she was such the spectacular bella luna I have grown to adore over the years. Framed between the branches of a majestic tall tree, the last picture I took (before my battery totally died!), the universe (and my camera settings) just happened to convene at the perfect time, revealing the beautiful full moon nestled against the background of stars.
Taken from Planet Earth, with my beloved Canon EOS 70D camera, EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens, with 1250 ISO, 1/3200 sec at 1.8.
P.S. Had this Earthling thought diligently before leaving town, I would have kept the 70-300 L lens on said camera, and brought my tripod (or at least monopod!). Alas, I had stars in my eyes!
Next Christmas full moon photography attempt: 2034 😀
Going to a Rocket Launch!
A few weeks ago, I applied for a spot in the #NASASocial group for the upcoming rocket launch. This group of 50 space junkies, like the media, will go to places that ordinary visitors to Kennedy Space Center usually don’t see. The NASA Social is an effort to spread information about the SpaceX program through social media, such as Twitter, Facebook, and even WordPress. I received an email stating that I had not been selected, but was on the wait list. Imagine my delighted surprise when last night I received another email telling me I was off the wait list and got the spot! I am a total space junkie, and an avid photographer, especially of launches. My husband and I have gone to many shuttle launches, and our son, Ian, has gone to a few, too. We’ve all experienced the letdown of a scrubbed launch (particularly the last night shuttle launch), and trudged through the parking lot, exhausted. Insert sad face here 😦
But, we’ve also experienced the utter thrill and sensations of shuttle launches, with the ground rumbling under your feet, and the sound that suddenly strikes, BOOM! You can feel it in your chest, you can feel it in your entire body, I can say there is no other feeling like it. Each launch left me in awe, in goosebumps, with me clicking my camera – thousands of times – saying “wow wow wow wow wow wow” over and over again. It’s those rare WOW moments that make you exhilarated, excited, and leave you with a perma-grin. Insert happy face here 😀
The album I’m sharing is of the first (and only) Ares rocket launch. This was scrubbed twice before she finally launched. But the three of us made the 5 a.m. check-ins, and when she finally did light up, so did our faces.
Next week, as a NASA Social participant, here’s what I (and the other 49 space junkies) get to do! WOW just WOW!
- view a launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket
- tour NASA facilities at Kennedy Space Center
- speak with representatives from both NASA and SpaceX
- view and take photographs of the SpaceX launch pad
- meet fellow space enthusiasts who are active on social media
- meet members of SpaceX and NASA’s social media teams
Excited to share my photos and experience with you, so stay tuned! We’re in the countdown.
Follow me on Twitter to get more updates! @whatisitpic … I think I’ll probably post more frequently there.
Near Super Moon
It’s a good thing I practiced taking photographs of the near Super Moon Saturday night (8/9), because the clouds and rain moved in last night. I hooked my camera body to my telescope … and thankfully had a moon filter … and this is the uncropped image. Wow, right?!? It was worth the massive mosquito bites. lol
Weekly Photo Challenge – Contrasts
(Two images) The sun and the moon – two universal contrasts. The better the contrast on the moon, the better the view. The sun photograph was taken with a solar filter on my telescope, which acted as my camera’s lens.
To see other interpretations of Contrasts, visit the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge here.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Unexpected
The first time I ever attached my camera to the telescope with a solar filter and took pictures of the sun, I captured several images of solar flares, which was very unexpected. Imagine my excited amazement when I saw this unexpected image on the computer screen for the first time!
To view other interpretations of “unexpected,” check out the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge here.
Bella Luna
The hubby and I took out the telescope and used it for the camera lens the other night. Bella Luna, such a beautiful moon. 🙂
Weekly Photo Challenge: Infinite
This week’s challenge: share a photo that represents the infinite. In my photograph, space is the ultimate infinite. Hubby Paul and I took this picture (with help, of course) in Tucson, Arizona, at the Kitt Peak Observatory’s overnight program five years ago, this was the first image we saw through their telescope. Just mind blowing!
To see other Infinite interpretations, or to play, too, visit the Daily Post here.
Sunspots Galore
Thanks to Andrew for the heads-up about the solar activity and sunspots, including a massive one!
Sunspots! Sunspots!
Lots of solar activity today, numerous spots viewed while taking pictures using my camera, telescope, and solar filter.
Schelley Cassidy Photography 