A sturgeon super moon will be visible in New Zealand on Tuesday night, if the weather is good.
Jonathan Green, an astrophotographer with 15 years of experience, will be observing the moon at Kumeu Observatory. The “blue” sturgeon moon will rise around 6 PM. Although it’s called a “blue moon,” it won’t actually be blue; the name means there are multiple full moons in a month. Green says it will be a special sight.
If you want to take photos, Green gives some advice. Using just a cellphone can be hard. He suggests using a telescope with your phone by focusing on the moon through the telescope’s eyepiece. This way, the moon will look bigger in your pictures.
A telephoto lens can also help make the moon look larger compared to objects in front of it. Getting good shots depends on timing; photographing when the moon rises or sets can add interesting foreground details. Green warns not to overexpose your photos because the moon is very bright. He also advises against using flash and recommends using manual settings on your camera.
For DSLR or mirrorless cameras, a sturdy tripod is essential, says Green. Mayank Mrug, another astrophotographer with nearly 20 years of experience, uses a 10-year-old DSLR for his images. He suggests shooting at a 300mm focal length and following a rule called “Looney 11,” meaning your shutter speed should be 1/11 when shooting the full moon.
More experienced photographers can try a stacking method, where multiple images or videos are combined to show more detail.
Green emphasizes practice. The quality of your photos can vary between cameras, so he recommends practicing on other full moon nights.
No matter how your photos turn out, just watching the moon can be a wonderful experience. Green encourages everyone to enjoy the blue moon if the skies are clear.
