Telephoto Moonrise

This telephoto shot emphasizes the color difference between the just-risen full moon and the surrounding twilight sky. The sky is cloud-free and a rich dark blue in the deepening twilight. But we are looking through so much atmosphere (the moon is less than 1 degree above the horizon) that even the slightest amount of airborn dust colors the moon a beautiful pink. Also noticeable is a slight "flattening" of the moon due to atmospheric refraction. Taken 19 minutes after sunset, looking east-southeast over the city lights of suburban Phoenix, Arizona.

Date: May 4, 2004
Time: 7:33 p.m. MST
Location: South Mountain Park, Phoenix, Arizona
Camera: Olympus OM-1 35mm SLR on fixed tripod
Film: Kodak Ektachrome E200 slide
Focal length: 600mm (200mm with X3 tele-extender)
Aperture: f/5.6-8
Exposure time: 2 seconds
Scanner: Nikon Coolscan LS-2000