Is it possible...

[OzStarGazer]

... to take a photo of the new moon?? I mean really 100% new. I managed to take a couple of nice photos two days before it was new, a little bit less nice 1 day before it was new, but when it is really new it is so close to the sun I wonder if an amateur astrophotographer can take pics at all. It seems to be impossible. Without a solar filter it is dangerous, and with a filter the moon won't be visible anyway? Thanks for your thoughts. :)
PS: I tried to search the forum, but didn't find anything...

[cometcatcher]

When it's 100% new it's called a total solar eclipse. :D

[cometcatcher]

This is about as "new" as I can get it.

[OzStarGazer]

Nice. :)
The first two are similar to mine except that the dark part is darker (in mine). How did you do the last one, I mean with details in the bright part? Which settings did you use? When I can see details in the bright part, the dark part is usually almost totally dark... :(

[cometcatcher]

The last one is 2 seconds at ISO 100. But the only reason you can see both areas bright and dark, is the cloud that moved over the lit part of the Moon. Normally cameras don't have the dynamic range to see both.

[OzStarGazer]

Oh, a lucky shot! :thumbsup:

[Blue Skies]

Ah, well, you need to use the right term ;)

If you put "Danjon Limit" into a search engine you will find the answer you are looking for.

The short answer is "No, you can't do 100%" but the answer about the total solar eclipse is also right!

Second, the Danjon limit describes the closest the Moon can be to the Sun and still be detected, which the French astronomer Danjon worked out to be 7 degrees separation. There were a series of articles in Sky & Telescope about this during the 2000's where some Middle East amateurs tried to break this with some big binoculars and I think they may have managed to crack it. There is a bit of debate about the limit as well, so you should be able to find plenty of reading about it now you know what to search for.

There was a mention of it in this thread (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=28012&highlight=Danjon).

[OzStarGazer]

Thank you, Jackie! :)

[rustigsmed]

i recall a news article maybe a year or two ago, a french (i think) astrophotographer just after new moon and set some kind of record - the telescope had all sorts of baffling set up to block the sun. if i find it i'll post it for you.

cheers

[rustigsmed]

http://legault.perso.sfr.fr/new_moon_2013july8.html

didn't take long thankfully!

[Blue Skies]

4.6 degrees - Smashed it!

Reminds me of a situation a few years ago of Venus being visible during solar conjunction in a similar situation.

[OzStarGazer]

Amazing! The guy should get into the Guinness Book of Records! :thumbsup: