Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/12/19

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Subject: [Leica] Total lunar eclipse: Once in a lifetime
From: lrzeitlin at gmail.com (Lawrence Zeitlin)
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2010 14:46:06 -0500

A total lunar eclipse will be visible from North America and much of the
rest of the world on Dec. 21. This is only the second time that a lunar
eclipse has taken place on the Winter Solstice in over 2000 years.
Photographing it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. All Luggers will be
dead the next time it occurs. Certainly the Leica company will be dead.

No special equipment is needed for most lunar photos. The full moon itself
is very bright, reflecting about 10% of the sun's light. The f16 rule should
work pretty well. During a total eclipse, however, the brightness falls off
and longer exposures are required. Perhaps the equivalent of 4 or 5 stops
more than the normal full moon. Unless you have a very fast telephoto lens
or a camera that will reach an ASA speed of 1600 or better, a tripod will be
required. All this is remembered from a couple of years training in
astrophysics in college a long time ago (class of '51) so don't take it as
gospel. The Leica M camera was merely a dream and Leica's latest lens was
the Summitar when I learned this stuff. So here are a couple of more
authoritative references:


Information on the 2010 lunar eclipse-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_2010_lunar_eclipse


How to take lunar eclipse photos with data and tables -

http://www.mreclipse.com/LEphoto/LEphoto.html

http://www.eclipse-chasers.com/lunar/leclphot.htm


Larry Z


Replies: Reply from richard at imagecraft.com (Richard Man) ([Leica] Total lunar eclipse: Once in a lifetime)