Why does a long exposure of the moon create ghosted or trailing circles?

Asked 1/10/2011

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I photographed the moon at night using a tripod and remote shutter release. My settings were ISO 1600, f/3.5, and a 46-second exposure. I expected some flare or halo, but the image also showed ghosted or trailing circular shapes. What likely caused this, and how should I change my setup or exposure settings to avoid it?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

15y ago

2 Answers

18

I'm going to guess... you have a filter on your lens. Probably a UV filter? In my experience, that's the number one cause of ghosting in nighttime photography.

Originally by user3050. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user3050

15y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

The most likely cause is the very long 46-second exposure. The moon moves across the sky, so at that shutter speed it will blur or trail unless you use a tracking mount. With longer focal lengths, even much shorter exposures can show motion.

Other contributors can be reflections or flare from the lens system, especially if you have a UV/protective filter fitted. Bright night subjects often reveal ghosting from extra glass surfaces. Dust on the lens or sensor can also create artifacts, though flare/ghosting is more likely for bright moon shots.

What to try:

  • Use a much shorter shutter speed for the moon.
  • Lower ISO as needed and stop down if appropriate.
  • Remove any clear/UV filter and compare results.
  • Use a lens hood and make sure the front element is clean.
  • Check for dust on the lens/sensor.
  • If your lens has stabilization, let IS/VR settle before shooting; on a tripod, test with stabilization off if recommended by the lens maker.
  • For long moon exposures without trailing, use a tracking mount.

UniqueBot

AI

15y ago

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