Lunar Eclipse tonight - hoping for clear skies

[Robert Watcher]

I was too lazy to bother doing the math for the sequence of shots that I want for the lunar eclipse tonight —- just in case the sky is clear (currently it’s not)….

… so I queried coPilot with this message “I want to take the first photo near the start of the partial eclipse tonight when there is a sliver of darkness, at 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 and the 5’th just before the total eclipse when just a sliver of light showing. Then the same process after the total eclipse until the end of the partial eclipse. Please provide time calculations for my London Ontario location, for each of these photos” —— and this is what was returned

———

I wanted to know these times so that I can just pop outside at each of these intervals and grab my shot and head in and relax or sleep in between. We’ll see how it goes.


A website that I absolutely love for dragging around a slider to identify the location of everything in the sky based on any date or time, is the interactive map here —- https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/night/


I don’t necessarily need this info, but I was curious as to what suggestions it would give

———-

The last time that I was able to photograph the complete lunar eclipse sequence was in 2008 when Anne & I were staying in Costa Rica for a few months. It was warm out and I layer on my back on the sidewalk, with my elbows pressed into my sides for stability —- aiming the camera straight up at the Cristal clear sky. I had a friend print the assembled sequence out to about 6 feet long and shipped to me from Canada, and presented it to the owner of the location that we were staying at.

 

[Robert Watcher]

Not looking overly promising right now at 8:45PM, but alarm is set for 1:00AM and I’m prepared just in case. A snapshot out my back door to the East

 

[Robert Watcher]

9:40pm full moon - so there is hope
Just need the skies to stay clear from 1:00am to 5:00am

10:07 - I wanted to get my clear shot of the full moon for adding to the sequence (if it comes). Shot at 200ISO

 

[Robert Watcher]

Couldn’t have been better. One half down. An hour wait until it pops out the other side. This pic is 2:30AM. Anne was on the prorch with me and snapped the shot of me with her phone.

 

[Robert Watcher]

It was worth every second of sitting outside our house, from 1:00am to 5:00am in -5C weather. The skies couldn’t have turned out clearer. Glad I was prepared regardless of if I could shoot or not. The preparation of the timing of sequences, proved so valuable, and because of that I was able to keep track of the exposure settings working toward the total eclipse, and use those settings in reverse order as the eclipse moved out.

I made sure to point my camera into a blank area of sky and take a couple shots, so that I’d have a matching background to composite the images on to in Affinity Photo.

 

[Asher Kelman]

You have a lot of patience and did your work with determination.

The latter likely means you have a well developed anterior cingulate gyrus and likely as not you are destined to live well past 100!

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

The size and function of the anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG) have been linked to cognitive resilience, stress regulation, and decision-making, all of which play a role in longevity. While direct studies on ACG size and lifespan are limited, research suggests several important connections:

1. Larger ACG and Longevity​

• Better Stress Regulation: A larger ACG is associated with greater emotional regulation and lower stress levels. Chronic stress is a known risk factor for shortened lifespan, so individuals with a well-developed ACG may handle stress better, reducing the negative health effects.
• Improved Cognitive Control: A well-developed ACG supports disciplined behaviors like exercise, healthy eating, and avoiding risky behaviors, which contribute to a longer life.
• Stronger Social and Emotional Processing: A larger ACG is linked to better social integration and emotional intelligence, both of which are correlated with increased longevity.

2. Smaller or Atrophied ACG and Reduced Longevity​

• Higher Risk of Mental Health Issues: Reduced ACG volume has been associated with depression, anxiety, and impulsivity, which can negatively impact lifespan through poor health choices and increased risk of chronic disease.
• Increased Stress Vulnerability: A smaller ACG is linked to weaker emotional regulation, making individuals more susceptible to stress-related conditions like hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and inflammation—all major factors in premature aging.
• Cognitive Decline: Atrophy in the ACG is observed in Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, which can shorten lifespan by impairing decision-making and overall brain health.

Can You Increase ACG Size for Longevity?​

Yes, certain activities may promote ACG health and potentially increase its volume over time:

• Mindfulness and Meditation: Studies show that meditation increases gray matter density in the ACG.
• Physical Exercise: Aerobic exercise is known to promote neurogenesis and improve brain health.
• Cognitive Training: Engaging in problem-solving, learning new skills, and practicing self-discipline strengthens the ACG.
• Social Connection: Strong relationships and emotional regulation exercises enhance ACG function.

 

[Asher Kelman]

I mention this, Robert because your devotion to your path in life, as long as I’ve known you, has you take on tasks repeatedly that demand perseverance, solving many problems and overcoming obstacles to reach your personal chosen goal. They determination is exemplary.

…and you are rewarded! Kudos!

Asher

 

[Robert Watcher]

I mention this, Robert because your devotion to your path in life, as long as I’ve known you, has you take on tasks repeatedly that demand perseverance, solving many problems and overcoming obstacles to reach your personal chosen goal. They determination is exemplary.

…and you are rewarded! Kudos!

Asher

Very kind of you Asher. Thank you.

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Rob,

It was worth every second of sitting outside our house, from 1:00am to 5:00am in -5C weather. The skies couldn’t have turned out clearer. Glad I was prepared regardless of if I could shoot or not. The preparation of the timing of sequences, proved so valuable, and because of that I was able to keep track of the exposure settings working toward the total eclipse, and use those settings in reverse order as the eclipse moved out.

I made sure to point my camera into a blank area of sky and take a couple shots, so that I’d have a matching background to composite the images on to in Affinity Photo.


View attachment 12636

A wondrous work. Thanks so much.

We slept through it here.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Asher Kelman]

Why do news reports talk of a “Red Worm Moon”?

 

[Robert Watcher]

Why do news reports talk of a “Red Worm Moon”?

I have no clue. But this is my search result:

The "Blood Moon" and "Worm Moon" are two distinct names that come together for this celestial event. The "Blood Moon" refers to the reddish hue the moon takes on during a total lunar eclipse. This happens because sunlight filters through Earth's atmosphere, scattering blue light and allowing red, orange, and yellow wavelengths to reach the moon's surface.

The "Worm Moon," on the other hand, is the traditional name for March's full moon. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, this name originates from the time of year when earthworms and other creatures start to emerge as the ground thaws in spring. Indigenous tribes and other cultures also have their own names for this moon, often reflecting seasonal changes or natural phenomena.

Pretty cool EH!

 

[Robert Watcher]

Hi, Rob,

A wondrous work. Thanks so much.

We slept through it here.

Best regards,

Doug

Thank you Doug

 

[James Lemon]

It was worth every second of sitting outside our house, from 1:00am to 5:00am in -5C weather. The skies couldn’t have turned out clearer. Glad I was prepared regardless of if I could shoot or not. The preparation of the timing of sequences, proved so valuable, and because of that I was able to keep track of the exposure settings working toward the total eclipse, and use those settings in reverse order as the eclipse moved out.

I made sure to point my camera into a blank area of sky and take a couple shots, so that I’d have a matching background to composite the images on to in Affinity Photo.


View attachment 12636

Bravo just awesome work Robert !

 

[Robert Watcher]

Bravo just awesome work Robert !

Thank you James

 

[Robert Watcher]

I made 2 versions of the composite - the linear above and this radial one connecting the sequence. My daughter has asked me to make this one into greeting cards for her store —— as well as a framed 11”x17” print of the linear image.

 

[James Lemon]

I made 2 versions of the composite - the linear above and this radial one connecting the sequence. My daughter has asked me to make this one into greeting cards for her store —— as well as a framed 11”x17” print of the linear image.

View attachment 12651

Thats a great idea.

 

[Robert Watcher]

 

[Asher Kelman]

These are exceptional and unique!

Hope they sell well!

Asher

 

[Robert Watcher]

A little experiment that I did to see how much detail could be recognized in the extreme lighting of the eclipsed moon. I always shoot in jpg format and that I worked great for my eclipse pictures as well. The highlights were exposed well and I let the shadows fall into deep blacks just as it appeared realistically.

I was shooting jpg and raw at the same time, just because of the extreme lighting and I didn’t want to miss this perhaps once in a long time opportunity to have the option of a little latitude if I needed it.

So being that I will never likely come upon a scene with such extreme exposure values, I was curious how much detail I could find in the deep shadows, by pulling the highlights all the way down and the mid tone and shadows all the way up, in the raw module. I have even heard that Olympus raw files are no where close to other brands. The results were rather impressive. Of course, the black sky became a mess of washed out neutral green. It did take a little fanagling and heavy burning in of the sky to make it presentable. The extreme adjustments do result in artifacts, and would never be used like this. But it was fun to try and know.

Pulling back the highlights, mid tones and shadows, revealed very little extra detail in the jpg file. However the jpg works perfectly for the prints that I have made with no extra processing.

 

[Asher Kelman]

I tried my best, but I can’t see any of the USA flags that I know we left there? Did Canada remove them after Trump was so rude?

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

BTW, I tried myself to examine the detail but the file is only some 900 x 900 pixels approx.

Is there anywhere you can see a crater on your RAW file?

Asher

 

[Robert Watcher]

BTW, I tried myself to examine the detail but the file is only some 900 x 900 pixels approx.

Is there anywhere you can see a crater on your RAW file?

Asher

Actually it’s over 1700 x 1200 pixels. As for craters. You don’t see as much definition of craters on the full moon because of flat lighting. Parts in the deep shadow of the earth with virtually no light shows even less detail I guess. Other phases of the moon reveal more shadows on craters because of the angle of the sunlight.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Actually it’s over 1700 x 1200 pixels. As for craters. You don’t see as much definition of craters on the full moon because of flat lighting. Parts in the deep shadow of the earth with virtually no light shows even less detail I guess. Other phases of the moon reveal more shadows on craters because of the angle of the sunlight.

What’s on OPF is roughly 900x900 pixels. The RAW surely is much larger but I am used to 50Mp and 100MP Fuji GFx!

 

[Robert Watcher]

Waning moon a few days after the lunar eclipse. More details in the craters with more directional sunlight - compared to flat lit full moon.

Interestingly, there is no advantage to shooting raw in this scenario. I made attempts to flatten the highlights, mid tones and shadows in a similar fashion on both the jpg and the raw files as shown below. Neither of these have had tonal adjustments or sharpening yet, as has been done with the final image. My attempt previously with the eclipsed moon, obviously was more successful because there was light on the shadow part of the moon that fell within the dynamic range of the sensor.

 

[Robert Watcher]

What’s on OPF is roughly 900x900 pixels. The RAW surely is much larger but I am used to 50Mp and 100MP Fuji GFx!

I may be totally off base with this Asher. You know your OPF software. Responsive websites show images at different dimensions based on the size of the screen. Often the images are being shrunk or stretched to fit the container. And often the same images has been created in varying sizes in the software, and those different dimension files are delivered at specific break points to speed up the page loading. That may be why you are seeing 900x900 pixel photos.

Here are a few screen shots with the photo I just posted, being inspected in developer mode. I used the 30in screen on my desktop Mac for this.

It may be hard to recognize in the small print, but showing three different screen widths, the resized dimensions sit overtop of the image, and the source code shows both the natural dimensions and well as the dimensions of the responsive image dimensions that is being used.

And if you were to right click on a photo and open it in a new tab or new window, the full size image shows the 1986 x 1418 pixel size

On my iPad I downloaded the same photo from the OPF software download link, and as you can see from the Info tab, it is larger than 900x900

That file size and dimension is plenty for web viewing. As well I have printed with files this size and smaller and gotten satisfying results.

 

[Ignacio “Oscar” Molina]

 

[Robert Watcher]

View attachment 12681

Therein lies the value of responsive website and good web design.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Therein lies the value of responsive website and good web design.

Rob,

Therein lies the result of having my designer from the great city of Madrid!

Aged