Chapter 1: A Night Under the Stars

The evening sky was beautifully clear, with just a gentle breeze. I took the opportunity to set up my large Dobsonian telescope outside while capturing a time-lapse of the mesmerizing conjunction between the moon and Saturn.

On October 24, 2023, these celestial bodies appeared in close proximity within the constellation Aquarius, an event referred to as a conjunction in astronomy. You can find more details and view the image I captured in this post.

For this endeavor, I used my 10-inch Orion Dobsonian telescope paired with a Tele Vue DeLite 18.2 mm eyepiece, along with a smartphone adapter and my phone to photograph the waxing gibbous moon, which was illuminated at 82%. This made it exceptionally bright against the night sky.

Observing the moon through a telescope is a breathtaking experience. There’s something indescribably rewarding about gazing at the vast night sky through both your eyes and a telescope. This feeling drives me to venture outside repeatedly and attempt to capture the stunning beauty of the cosmos while keeping the process uncomplicated.

The setup was quite straightforward. After positioning my phone and launching the camera app, I captured a few images, all saved in my phone’s photo library. Once I concluded the session, I reviewed the pictures and chose the best one, which I then edited using my phone’s built-in editing tools.

Here’s the photo I managed to take. I utilized a mobile app called NightCap Camera, which offers comprehensive control over the camera settings, including ISO, shutter speed, focus, and white balance. Isn’t it remarkable?

Captured: Waxing gibbous moon (82% illuminated) through my 10" telescope and smartphone.

In addition to the photographs, I was pleasantly surprised by the capabilities of my phone when creating the time-lapse video. I again used NightCap for this purpose. If you’re interested in viewing the video, it’s available on my YouTube channel. (If you watch closely, you’ll notice a small point of light moving alongside the moon; that’s Saturn!)

Given the simplicity of the equipment I used and the brevity of the session, I’m genuinely pleased with the outcome.

Thank you for reading.

Wishing you clear skies and encouraging you to keep looking up.

Chapter 2: Video Tutorials for Moon Photography

To enhance your lunar photography skills, check out these helpful YouTube videos:

The first video, How to Take a Photo of the Moon with Your PHONE (and a Telescope), provides step-by-step instructions on capturing stunning lunar images.

The second video, How to Photograph the Moon with a Smartphone and a Telescope, offers additional techniques and tips for achieving great results.

If you enjoyed this content and would like to support my work, I appreciate any contribution, even if it's just a virtual cup of coffee!

Here are some links to the equipment I used:

• [Orion SkyQuest XT10 Classic Dobsonian Telescope on Amazon](#)
• [Celestron NexYZ 3–Axis Universal Smartphone Adapter for Telescope on Amazon](#)
• [Tele Vue DeLite 18.2mm 1.25" eyepiece on Amazon](#)
• [Red light used for astronomy sessions on Amazon](#)
• [Folding and portable table for astronomy on Amazon](#)

(Paid links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)