Lunar eclipses are some of the most awaited astronomical events for those who enjoy astrophotography.
There’s just something mysteriously astonishing about the moon turning blood red. So, we certainly understand the urge to take your camera and capture the enthralling and rare cosmic wonder.
If you’re one of the people dreaming of capturing the planet’s satellite in its stunningly scarlet appearance, you’re in the right place.
Here are some of the best expert tips to photograph a lunar eclipse in 2024.
What Is a Lunar Eclipse?
Credit: Giuseppe Donatiello from Oria (Brindisi), Italy, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
You’re likely familiar with solar eclipses. That’s when the moon comes between the Earth and the sun, casting a shadow on some parts of the globe.
A lunar eclipse is the opposite of a solar eclipse. As the Earth positions itself precisely between the moon and the sun, it casts a shadow on the moon, dimming its surface and, at the right angle, making it appear strikingly red.
There are three types of lunar eclipses.
First is the penumbral, the hardest lunar eclipse to notice or observe with the naked eye as the moon only passes on the Earth’s penumbral (outer) shadow.
Second is a partial lunar eclipse, which happens when a part of the moon aligns with a portion of the Earth’s umbral (inner) shadow.
Then there’s the total lunar eclipse when the moon exactly aligns with the Earth’s umbral shadow. As sunlight passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, it filters light with shorter wavelengths (blues and violets), making the moon look red.
Expert Tips to Capture a Lunar Eclipse
Credit: Patrick Hendry
Whether your goal is to capture the entire sequence of the lunar eclipse or simply the part when the moon is at its reddest, here are the best expert tips to keep in mind:
Lunar Eclipse Date
Of course, before you can take pictures, you’ll want to know when a lunar eclipse will happen in your area. You can find this information on NASA’s website, online forums, or social media.
Luckily, lunar eclipses are more frequent than their solar counterparts, which according to scientists, only occur in the same place once every 375 years. Although not visible to every part of the world, a lunar eclipse can happen zero to three times every year.
So, when can we expect the next lunar eclipse in 2024?
According to Britannica, there will be two lunar eclipses in 2024. One penumbral eclipse already happened on March 24 and 25 across Europe, Asia, America, and Africa.
The next lunar eclipse will occur on September 18, 2024, and will be visible in much of Asia, Europe, America, and Africa. This eclipse will be partial, meaning a portion of the moon will appear orange or red.
Camera and Lenses
Taking pictures of a lunar eclipse can be extra challenging because the moon essentially dims. In short, you may need a few dedicated pieces of equipment to get the best lunar photos.
You’ll want a camera with a long telephoto lens or telescope with at least 200mm to 400mm (or higher) focal length. This way, your pictures will be larger, capturing more lunar surface details.
Interestingly, entry-level cameras with smaller sensors, like Micro Four Thirds and crop-sensor APS-C models, can offer an advantage because their crop factor effectively increases the apparent focal length of your lens.
This makes them particularly useful for getting a more zoomed-in view compared to full-frame (35mm) cameras, though full-frame sensors generally perform better in low light.
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Of course, you can always opt for wide-angle lenses for your lunar photography. You can create scenic snaps of the lunar event contrasted with a panoramic landscape.
That said, whichever camera you use, you want a camera capable of full manual control for frequent adjustments throughout the lunar eclipse’s phases.
Manual mode is best as it gives you freedom over the camera’s aperture, ISO, and shutter speed.
Suitable Camera Settings
The next lunar eclipse will be partial and won’t turn as dark as a total eclipse. Still, you’ll want to tweak your camera correctly to get the stunning minute details of the lunar event.
Start with your camera’s aperture, typically marked by a front-facing camera lens icon in the setting. Set it to f/8 to give your snaps depth, and begin with a lower ISO sensitivity, between 100 and 400.
A low ISO is ideal because it creates a better tonal range. This setting is important to capture the umbra’s edge, where the colors are most exquisite.
For shutter speed, typically marked by a time or a running icon, a setting between 1/1000 and 1/125 should be great for snapping the initial phase of the eclipse when it’s brighter.
Do note that the brightness of a lunar eclipse varies as it progresses.
That means you’ll want to adjust the exposure accordingly as the moon darkens, as a higher shutter speed can make the camera focus more on the bright lunar surface, rendering the dark side invisible. (Here‘s a handy guide to exposing for a lunar eclipse.)
So, as the eclipse’s peak arrives, you’ll want to adjust your camera to a higher light sensitivity by upping the ISO or extending the exposure time.
Here’s a pro tip:
When photographing the lunar eclipse as a part of a landscape or other objects, make the object or landscape the camera’s focus. Behind the hyperfocal distance, the moon will remain sharp in your snaps.
Technical and Terrain Equipment
When taking pictures of astronomical events, it’s best to arrive at your location early and scout for the best spots to set up your camera.
Consider using a tripod for better camera stabilization during long exposures. Or, if your budget allows, a driven equatorial mount to make your astrophotography infinitely easier.
A remote shutter release is another useful piece of equipment when capturing long-exposure photos. This way, you can eliminate the shakes that may ruin your finished products by pushing the camera’s shutter.
Final Thoughts
While it happens relatively frequently, a lunar eclipse isn’t the easiest astronomical event you can capture on camera. So, try practicing with a normal full moon to get a rough idea about the settings and framing you’ll use for the lunar eclipse.
Be sure to check the weather forecast and move your location if needed. Most importantly, use the above tips and get the best lunar eclipse photographs to share with your family and friends!
