Capturing stunning Perseid meteor photos even with the Moon's glow: A guide for this year's display's optimal imagery
Photographing the Perseid Meteor Shower During a Full Moon
The 2021 Perseid meteor shower is approaching, and despite the bright Moon, it's still possible to capture stunning images of shooting stars. Here's a guide to help you photograph the Perseid meteor shower during a full Moon with bright moonlight.
Aim Away from the Moon
To avoid overexposure of the part of the sky near the Moon and to reduce sky brightness from moonlight, point your camera away from the Moon at an altitude around 60°.
Use a Fast Wide-Field Lens
Use a fast wide-field lens, such as around 18-20mm focal length, and attach your camera to a sturdy tripod for stability during long exposures.
Set Your Camera to Manual Mode
Set your camera to manual mode with a mid-range ISO (e.g., ISO 800) and adjust exposure time using the 500 rule (500 divided by lens focal length) to avoid star trailing. For a 20mm lens, about 25 seconds is a good starting point.
Shoot with Shorter Exposures
Since moonlight brightens the sky and limits exposure length, aim for shorter exposures that capture meteors' brief bright trail without overexposing the sky.
Automate Continuous Long Exposures
Use a remote shutter release or intervalometer to automate continuous long exposures, increasing your chances of catching meteors during the shower’s peak without introducing camera shake.
Be Patient and Review Images
Be patient and continuously shoot for about an hour or more, reviewing images and adjusting settings if needed.
Consider Using Software
Consider trying software (e.g., BackyardEOS, N.I.N.A.) to control your camera and automate shooting sequences on a laptop, which helps manage storage and battery life during long sessions.
Focus on Bright Fireballs
Understand that moonlight greatly reduces visible meteors to mostly bright fireballs, so focus on catching these brighter events rather than faint meteors.
While bright moonlight will reduce the number of visible meteors and add sky brightness, capturing the shower with the above techniques remains feasible, especially for the brightest meteors.
Tips and Tricks
- Keep an eye on the lens and clear any dew with a 12V camping hairdryer or a band heater, often sold in astro-imaging dew-heater kits. USB versions run from power banks.
- Take a test shot and adjust exposure or ISO as necessary to achieve visible stars without white areas.
- If you have two cameras, setting their shooting sequences out of sync can help cover the sky at all times during the Perseid meteor shower under bright moonlight.
- Adjust where the camera points over the course of the evening to avoid the Moon wandering into the field of view.
- The lens should be adjusted to be wide open (lowest f/ number) and pre-focused at infinity. The camera's ISO should be set to 1600-3200, and exposures should be set for 30 seconds.
After the session, look through each image for meteor trails. Share your Perseid meteor images by emailing contactus@our website. Happy shooting!
- To take astrophotography of the Perseid meteor shower during a full Moon, aim your camera away from the Moon at an altitude around 60° to avoid overexposure.
- Use a fast wide-field lens, such as around 18-20mm focal length, and set your camera to manual mode with a mid-range ISO (e.g., ISO 800) for stability and appropriate exposure.
- To catch meteors' brief bright trails without overexposing the sky, utilize a remote shutter release or intervalometer for automating continuous long exposures.
- Since moonlight greatly reduces visible meteors to mostly bright fireballs, focus on capturing these brighter events and consider using software to control your camera and automate shooting sequences for an efficient session.
