Moon Covers Aldebaran February 2018

Equipment | Ricoh GR Photos | Leica M (Typ 240) Photos | Conclusions | Links

The following photos of the moon covering Aldebaran were taken on February 23, 2018 with the digital cameras Ricoh GR and Leica M (Typ 240). Incidentally, the next Aldebaran covering will not be visible in our latitudes until 2033.

The photos were taken starting at about 17:50 o'clock, when Aldebaran was "swallowed" by the moon on its dark side. About an hour later, about 18:50 o'clock, Aldebaran reappeared on the bright side of the moon and then moved farther and farther away from it.

I had mounted the Leica M (Tpy 240) to the Skymax-127 by means of a T-mount adapter. This can be seen in section Equipment and is described in more detail elsewhere. I had also built up the Skymax-102 so that my wife was able to observe the covering in parallel. Fortunately, I took some photos with the Ricoh GR on this telescope from time to time, because the results with the Leica M on the Skymax-27 were disappointing. I held the Ricoh GR to the eyepiece of the Skymax-102 using the 1:50 method.

Equipment

Skymax-102

Skymax-127 to the left and below

Skymax 102, Skymax-127 in the background

Ricoh GR Photos

Before the Covering


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After the Covering


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Leica M (Typ 240) Photos

Since the photos with the Leica M (type 240) are blurred from camera shae for unknown reasons, you never see Aldebaran as a point, but always see a small movement track...

Before the Covering


Aldebaran still there - 2500 pixels	Ditto - 2500 pixels	Aldebaran covered - 2500 pixels

Enlarged sections from the last two photos with Aldebaran to better demonstrate camera shake

After the Covering

Here are the first "photo-sightings" on the bright side of the moon (approx. 18:50 o' clock) in 200% magnification (the caprioles of Aldebaran are to be owed to the camera and the photographer):


First clearer view of Aldebaran		Three photos later, Aldebaran was even better to see...

Here are four samples including "Aldebaran tracks" from a little later:


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Conclusions

All in all, it was exciting to observe and photograph Aldebaran's covering by the moon and its reappearance. In my case, however, this included a technical test, namely the first use of the Leica M (Typ 240) at the T-Mount connector of my Skymax-127, which unfortunately was not very successful. Fortunately, the Ricoh GR, which I held with my hand to the eyepiece of my Skymax-102, saved the situation so that a few usable shots were made.