Photos of the Moon - August 2018

On this page I present photos of the moon that I took from August 15-22, 2018 and that I edited afterwards. I used my 32 mm DigiScope eyepiece mit T-Mount at my Sky-Watcher Skymax-102 OTA and Skymax-127 OTA telescope tubes, which I mounted to the Sky-Watcher, AZ Pronto mount, and the Sony RX100 M4 camera, which I screwed firmly to the 32 mm eyepiece (projection method). I exposed all photos manually, set distance manually to infinity and set the sharpness at the telescope.

On the one hand, I wanted to find out what photo quality I would be able to achieve with my equipment, on the other hand I was still interested in differences between the two Skymax tubes.

In the following, I will only mention things that are different for the respective series of photos.

Note: The following photos are oriented in a way that they correspond to the normal visual impression.

August 15, 2018: Moon Photos with Sky-Watcher Skymax-102 OTA and Skymax-127 OTA

The following photos of the moon were taken on August 15, 2018. I exposed manually using 1/60 sec, f/4 at ISO 1600. My goal was to compare the two Skymax OTAs, but the conditions were too different (my fault...) that a serious comparison is possible.

More or Less the Complete Moon...

All the photos were cropped and scaled down to a similar size. The large versions (links) open in a new window and demonstrate the different pixel sizes. Clicking a photo opens this in double size in a new window or tab.


2400 Pixels - Skymax-102	2400 Pixels - Skymax-102	2400 Pixels - Skymax-102

3200 Pixels - Skymax-127	3200 Pixels - Skymax-127	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127

3600 Pixels - Skymax-127	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127

Detail (Mare Crisium)

The detail photos are cropped and scaled down to about the same size. Clicking on the photos opens the sections in the real pixel size (100%).


2400 Pixels - Skymax-102	2400 Pixels - Skymax-102	2400 Pixels - Skymax-102

3200 Pixels - Skymax-127	3200 Pixels - Skymax-127	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127

3600 Pixels - Skymax-127	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127

August 16, 2018: Moon Photos with Sky-Watcher Skymax-102 OTA and Skymax-127 OTA

The following photos of the moon were taken on August 16, 2018. I exposed manually (see the photos) at ISO 800. My goal was again to compare the two Skymax OTAs, and I hoped that the photo would be more comparable this time.

More or Less the Complete Moon...


3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm), 1/40, f/4	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm), 1/40, f/4	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm), 1/60, f/4

3200 Pixels - Skymax-127 (45 mm), 1/100, f/4	3200 Pixels - Skymax-127 (45 mm), 1/100, f/4	3200 Pixels - Skymax-127 (45 mm), 1/125, f/4

3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm), 1/100, f/4	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm), 1/100, f/4	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm), 1/100, f/4

Detail (Mare Nectaris)

The detail photos are cropped and scaled down to about the same size. Clicking on the photos opens the sections in the real pixel size (100%).


3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)

3200 Pixels - Skymax-127 (45 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-127 (45 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-127 (45 mm)

3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)

August 18, 2018: Moon Photos with Sky-Watcher Skymax-102 OTA and Skymax-127 OTA

The following photos of the moon were taken on August 18, 2018. I exposed manually using 1/125 sec, f/4 at ISO 800. My goal was again to compare the two Skymax OTAs, and I hoped that the photo would be more comparable this time.

More or Less the Complete Moon...


3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)

3400 Pixels - Skymax-127 (45 mm)	3400 Pixels - Skymax-127 (45 mm)	3400 Pixels - Skymax-127 (45 mm)

3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)

Detail (Albategnius to Rupes Altai)

The detail photos are cropped and scaled down to about the same size. Clicking on the photos opens the sections in the real pixel size (100%).


3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)

3400 Pixels - Skymax-127 (45 mm)	3400 Pixels - Skymax-127 (45 mm)	3400 Pixels - Skymax-127 (45 mm)

3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)

August 19, 2018: Moon Photos with Sky-Watcher Skymax-102 OTA and Skymax-127 OTA

The following photos of the moon were taken on August 19, 2018. I exposed manually using 1/125 sec, f/4 at ISO 400. This time, I always used a focal length of 50 mm (equiv.) for the camera. My goal was again to compare the two Skymax OTAs, and I hoped that the photo would be more comparable this time than at the beginning.

More or Less the Complete Moon...


3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)

3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)

Detail (Ptolemaeus to Stöfler)

The detail photos are cropped and scaled down to about the same size. Clicking on the photos opens the sections in the real pixel size (100%).


3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)

3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)

August 20, 2018: Moon Photos with Sky-Watcher Skymax-102 OTA and Skymax-127 OTA

The following photos of the moon were taken on August 20, 2018. I exposed manually using 1/125 sec, f/2.8 at ISO 400. Again, I always used a focal length of 50 mm (equiv.) for the camera. My goal was again to compare the two Skymax OTAs, and I hoped that the photo would be more comparable this time than at the beginning.

More or Less the Complete Moon...


3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)

3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)

Detail (Right Part of Mare Imbrium)

The detail photos are cropped and scaled down to about the same size. Clicking on the photos opens the sections in the real pixel size (100%).


3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)

3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)

August 21, 2018: Moon Photos with Sky-Watcher Skymax-102 OTA and Skymax-127 OTA

The following photos of the moon, which show the golden handle (Montes Jura) were taken on August 21, 2018. I exposed manually (see the photos) at ISO 400. Once again, I used always a focal length of 50 mm (equiv.) for the camera. My goal was again to compare the two Skymax OTAs, and I hoped that the photo would be more comparable this time than at the beginning.

More or Less the Complete Moon...


3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm), 1/125, f/2.8	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm), 1/60, f/2.8	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm), 1/60, f/2.8

3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm), 1/60, f/2.8	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm), 1/125, f/2.8	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm), 1/125, f/2.8

Detail (Mare Imbrium with Montes Jura = Golden Handle)

The detail photos are cropped and scaled down to about the same size. Clicking on the photos opens the sections in the real pixel size (100%).


3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)

3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)

August 22, 2018: Moon Photos with Sky-Watcher Skymax-102 OTA and Skymax-127 OTA

The following photos of the moon were taken on August 22, 2018. I exposed manually with 1/200 sec, f/5,6 at ISO 400. Once more, I used always a focal length of 50 mm (equiv.) for the camera. My goal was again to compare the two Skymax OTAs, and I hoped that the photo would be more comparable this time than at the beginning.

More or Less the Complete Moon...


3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)

3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)

Detail (Mare Imbrium with Montes Jura)

The detail photos are cropped and scaled down to about the same size. Clicking on the photos opens the sections in the real pixel size (100%).


3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)	3200 Pixels - Skymax-102 (50 mm)

3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)	3600 Pixels - Skymax-127 (50 mm)

Comparison of the Days


August 15, 2018	August 16, 2018	August 18, 2018

August 19, 2018	August 20, 2018	August 21, 2018

August 22, 2018

Conclusions

I created these photo in order to explore, which photo quality that can be achieved with my equipment, that is, with my Skymax-102 and -127 OTAs on an AZ Pronto mount, and a Sony RX100 M4 camera, which was attached to a 32 mm eyepiece with a T-mount and was triggered with a wired remote control. On the other hand, I am still interested in finding out how pronounced the differences between my two Skymax tubes are.

The first point is demonstrated by photos, which anyone can download if interested. I took a lot more photos than I present here, but, of course, I had to make a selection. Often, it seemed arbitrary to me which photo I should present here, because one thing was better depicted on one photo and the other thing better on the other photo. All in all, a comparison of the many photos showed that air turbulence plays or can at least play an important role in my shots, which I took during the hottest summer for a long time. Sometimes, the turbulences distort certain structures, especially when you look at the photos in quick succession, sometimes it makes small structures disappear completely.

With regard to the second point, that is, the comparison of the tubes, it occurs to me as if air turbulence played a greater role than the imaging performance of the two tubes. Here, too, one of the tubes shows more details here, and the other there... Nevertheless, the slightly higher magnification of the Skymax-127 compared to the Skymax-102 may have a positive effect in the end, because the moon structures area little bit larger at the same focal length of the camera and thus, often better visible. When I reduce the camera's focal length for the Skymax-127 (from 50 mm to 45 mm) to approximate the image size of the Skymax-102, the differences seem more or less to disappear. I do not want to do a doctoral thesis on this matter and everyone can download the relevant photos if interested... Perhaps I will see the differences more clearly when I later search for certain landscape forms or landscapes for my moon pages and will then compare the sections in detail in search of the best example.