Take The Best Super-Supermoon Photos With Your Smartphone

You may be wondering what makes this week’s supermoon so special after all. But astronomers guarantee that this something really worth paying attention to. On this Monday, this supermoon will be really super - the biggest one since 1948. Learn how to take great pictures of it with your smartphone.

You may be wondering what makes this week’s supermoon so special after all.

It’s been a few years that the term supermoon has become widespread, and although it was first coined back in 1979, just very recently we started calling super what just used to be a big full moon. It has always dazzled us with its beauty, we just didn’t have a name for it.

Supermoon over the pines of Canada. We gotta love it! Image Source: Huffington Post

In fact, there has been a technical name - the perigee-sizygy of Earth-Moon-Sun system, which is basically when a full moon happens when the moon is at its closest to the Earth. Technically, a supermoon occurs at about every 14th full moons, i.e, every 14th full moon will be a supermoon. Since we have about 12 full moons a year, it's easy to understand that the term supermoon has been a little overused by the media.

By now you might be a little more skeptical about all the hype related to today’s event. But astronomers guarantee that this something really worth paying attention to. On this Monday, this supermoon will be really super - the biggest one since 1948 - and you won’t be able to see another one like that before 2034.

What’s the Best Time to Watch It?

As if Kansas City weren't pretty enough. Image Source: Kansas City

When the moon is full, it rises at about the same time as sunset, so if you go out right after sunset you will be able to see a spectacularly larger and brighter supermoon. Like a supermoon on steroids.

In case you miss it on Monday, you can still catch it Tuesday at about the same size and brightness, although it won’t be technically called a supermoon anymore.

How to Photograph It with Your Cell Phone

Have you ever been to Rio? There's time for everything in life as long as we are alive! Image Source: Daily Mail

Photographing this sensational event can be a little tricky. Since it’s so shiny and people tend to take pictures at night, when it’s too dark, it’s usual the outcome looks just a little white spot in the sky. In order to overcome this and a few other problems, here are a few tips.

Light

Try to properly measure the light. It’s common that cellphones make a general measurement of the picture, where most of the space is dark, so the moon becomes a white blur. Try to focus (the little square on iphones or circle for android) exactly on the moon.If your phone has the option of focusing on an infinite point, do so. There are some apps available that also help achieving the correct measurement.

When

There should be a poem about this moon over Athens, right? Image Source: Daily Mirror — There should be a poem about this moon over Athens, right? Image Source: The Mirror

The ideal time for shooting the supermoon is right after sunset, when the sky isn’t yet totally dark. At dusk you’ll be able to take a good picture when the moon is already big enough and the sky is still relatively clear.

Framework

Photos that show more than just the moon are more interesting. Include people, buildings or birds to compose a better picture. If you can go to a higher place, like the top of a building or a hill, try to do so and take a full picture of the moon with the city.

Configuration

Try to set the phone to the best available configuration. Always go for the lower compression option, even if it takes more space in memory, this phenomenon makes it all worth it. The lower the compression of the image, the more details you’ll get. If your device has an HDR option, use it.

This technology enhances the ability of your cell camera to capture lights with different intensities.

Accessories

Invest because life's too short! Image Source: Damn Geeky

It isn’t expensive to get lens adapters for your phone. They increase the zoom power, so it’s highly recommended that you use one to shoot the supermoon.

Brightness

In order to highlight the colors and the details, reduce the brightness by just sliding down the little ball that appears next to the focus square or circle.

ISO

Minimize the ISO, which determines the sensitivity of the camera, You’ll already have enough light provided by the moon.

Continuous Mode

A lot of cellphones have the option of taking several picture but keeping the shutter button pressed. This will help avoid blurred pictures.

Selfies/Portraits

Selfies and portraits are not a good idea since most cell phones won’t have enough technology to properly balance the great light difference between the moon and the person. Most likely you will get the blurred spot you’re trying to avoid. An alternative that may work is using the flash right before sunset, but it’s not guaranteed that it will work.

Did you know that Harvest Moon is the name given by the Farmer’s Almanac to the full moons that happen in the Fall?