Take Better Photos Of The Moon Within An Hour Of Sunset

Some nights, the moon just looks particularly awesome — but when you go to snap a photo, it looks like a white dot on a black background. Wired shares some tips for taking better shots of the moon.

Unfortunately, your best bet is to use a real camera with a specific set of manual settings — not your phone. Wired details the best settings to use, but one of their more general tips caught our eye:

Finally, there are two factors that don’t have anything to do with the camera at all. One is all about timing: The moon looks bigger and most dramatic when it’s near the horizon, so you’ll get the best photo opps within an hour of sunset or sunrise. Another has to do with location. You’re less likely to get a tack-sharp shot in a big city as you are in the middle of nowhere, because you’ll be dealing with light pollution in heavily populated areas.

So the next time you’re looking to shoot a good moon photo, head out near dawn or dusk. Chances are, you’ll be happier with the results. Hit the link for Wired’s detailed moon photography guide.

WTF Just Happened: Why Can’t I Take a Decent Picture of the Moon? [Wired]