The last Supermoon of the year is happening today and you can record the moment with your cell phone. Find out how!
The last Supermoon of 2023 will take place this Friday (29). It will be possible to observe Earth's natural satellite in an apparent size above average. This happens when the Full Moon coincides with the so-called perigee, the closest point to the planet. Officially, the Full Moon has its maximum point at 6:30 am Brasília time. Therefore, Thursday and Friday nights should be good times to observe and try to photograph the star.
To observe the phenomenon, no accessories are necessary, since a clear sky is enough. To take photos, however, you need to be careful and follow some tips to set up your cell phone and get the perfect photo.
If you are interested in photographing the last Supermoon of this year, check out the main tips for doing so and learn more about the phenomenon now!
Supermoon
The Supermoon is the popular name given when the Full Moon phase coincides with the so-called perigee. Over the course of about 28 days, the Moon orbits the Earth, a movement called a revolution. During this period, there are two points at which the satellite is closest to the planet. When the Full Moon occurs at more or less the same time, a Supermoon occurs. Several Supermoons usually occur over the course of a year, and today's will be the last of 2023.
How to photograph the SuperMoon
Taking good photos of the moon with your cell phone can be quite difficult, and it can be a real anticipation vs. reality thing. This happens because most cell phones don't have large zoom ranges, which creates a big challenge for a good composition, preventing the satellite from appearing as a blur of light in the photo.
To obtain acceptable results, you need to follow some important tips. The first one is related to the camera's light settings. In Android cell phones and iOS you can make some light adjustments, but some third-party apps can help even more.
ISO is the sensitivity of the sensor. The higher the number, the grainier the photo will be. Therefore, it is a good idea to use a very low setting. Regarding the aperture, a large aperture is also not necessary, since the moon reflects sunlight well. Leaving it at something close to f/8 can be a good option.
When it comes to shutter speed, using a slow shutter speed can make your photo blurry or too bright. You may want to use a faster shutter speed, such as 1/250s. Using a tripod can also help ensure that your photo is more stable.
The second tip is regarding zoom. If your cell phone has an above-average optical zoom, like the Galaxy S23 Ultra, taking pictures of the moon can be much simpler. However, if you have a more basic cell phone, without optical zoom, it is best not to zoom in too much. In this case, it may be better to compose the photo with other elements of the landscape.
It may also be interesting to take the images to a photo editing professional. One option is Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC. With it, you can adjust the lighting of the photo, ensuring that it is a little closer to your initial objective.
