Digital Image: HDR Total Lunar Eclipse

Here is the final result from the Total Lunar Eclipse of May 15-16, 2022. This is a high dynamic range (HDR) image, in that two integrated images were combined to form the final result. The starscape background and the moonglow were captured in a 60 second exposure. Then at mid eclipse, a 1/2 second series of images were shot (10xR, 10xG, 10xB). The resulting stack was combined with the longer exposure to produce this image.

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Image Info

  • Imaged from the KPO field in Saint Cloud, Florida.
  • Camera : ZWO ASI1600MM Pro
  • Lens: Canon 100-400 f/5.6L lens, set to 400mm
  • Mount: iOptron SmartEQ Pro
  • Lunar disc:
    • Red: 10 subframes of 0.5s = 2.5 sec integration
    • Green: 10 subframes of 0.5s = 2.5 sec integration
    • Blue: 10 subframes of 0.5s = 2.5 sec integration
  • Starscape & Moonglow:
    • Red: 1 subframes of 60s = 1 minute integration
    • Green: 1 subframes of 60s = 1 minute integration
    • Blue: 1 subframes of 60s = 1 minute integration
  • Total integration time: 187.5 seconds = 3.1 minutes.
  • Captured via ASIAir Pro automation
  • Optical tracking via ASIAir automation, currently using ST4 mount control via the ASI120MM-S guide camera
  • Separate channels stacked and RGB integrated in Astro Pixel Processor
  • Images cropped, stretched, and noise processed in Nebulosity.
  • Layering of lunar disc and starscape integrations done in PhotoShop
  • Final processing in Aperture

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