3D Moon Photos - Yes, Anybody Can Do This!

[@scoutisabelle]

Wow, the 3D effect. is cool. Relaxing my eyes like when I look at those Magic Eye 3D books made the Moon pop out from the screen.

[@RonColeArt]

There are two ways of seeing a 3D image on a computer screen, parallel view and cross view. The method you used in this video was the parallel view, in which the right image is on the right and the left is on the left, but that can create eye strain when the images are large and seen on a desktop computer. This is because your eyes are attempting to view two images that are wider apart than their eyes and human eyes are not able to move outward away from each other. The cross view method is better for large images, in which case (as the name implies) the images are switched right to left and left to right. The viewer crosses their eyes until they see 3 images and then focus on the one in the center. In that case, the right eye is viewing the image on the left and the left eye is viewing the one on the right. That method works better because human eyes routinely "cross" when viewing objects close to us, so the muscles aren't doing anything unusual. The cross view method is difficult for some people to learn but there's a trick you can use that makes it easier. Place your hands on either side of your eyes like blinders and cup your hands until the your right eye can only see the image on the left (the right view) and the image on the left eye can only see the image on the right (the left view). This makes it almost impossible not to easily see the 3D effect. Also, there are companies that make mirrored viewers you look through like binoculars for watching stereo movies and photos in the parallel view on your computer screen. So if you're into this 3D stereo thing as a hobby, there are a number of methods and tools.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@AlexDiesTrying]

If it's done with the parallel method and the images are too far apart, Ctrl + - in most browsers can scale them small enough. Ctrl 0 resets.

[@davidholder1192]

100% cloud cover here tonight, but as soon as we can we plan to give this a try. Now to re-read Red Hope . . .

[@PPL_Mick]

Waiting for the crazies to appear to say the moon is only 2D because it’s a projection.

[@tikigirl]

OMG I knew it.

[@oryx3]

The moon is a painting on the glass sky-ceiling. Yup.

[@charlesdufrene6244]

Such a cool video. Love the tumb trick to show the grandkids... Will give this a try.

[@AstronomyGarage]

The Moon is full right now. Perfect time to try taking some 3D photos of the moon!

[@knarf9335]

I thought one of your methods was going to be photograph the moon at different positions in its orbit. After thinking about how to best do that I realized why that will not work. But, then I wondered if the angle sepatations would be favorable to make any planets pop out in front of background stars, then I realized why that wouldn't work either, because the background would constantly change. Lastly, how about the closer stars in the northern hemisphere such as Sirius. Another strike out. One side of the right angle triangle is 5.056 × 10^13 miles and the other is 186 million miles, so the hypotenuse is essentially the same length as the other long side of the triangle. Looks like the only other target for 3d imaging is the Sun with the earth at different locations in its orbit, but any surface details would be meaningless. Good job on the moon, I have never heard of this being tried before.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Well, you are on to something actually. A similar parallax method is used for measuring star distances if photos are taken 6 months apart. That way, the two images are opposite sides of the Sun, so they are about 186million miles part as the base of the triangle.

[@jbflores01]

it worked! the thumb hack makes it a lot easier to see the 3d image. thanks for a great video...as always!

[@AstronomyGarage]

That's how I have to do it every time, lol. It gets easier though.

[@johngiromini5745]

"Preferably your own". Nice! Great info, John

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thanks John. With tonights full Moon, I hope a lot of people get to try it out!

[@Blu3B33r]

Cute cow cat!🤍🖤

[@AstronomyGarage]

Haha, thanks! He likes to read with me.

[@JoeJaguar]

thanks John lots great fun info

[@joneslu1377]

Very interesting. Thank you for making such fun 3D viewing experience possible and explaining everything so well!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thank YOU for watching!

[@rickbria8420]

Also a fourth way. For close-ups of the moon, you could take pictures one day apart. They can be displayed several ways. Assembled in software for use with 3-D glasses, or simply shown as a video called ‘wiggle 3-D.’ I’ve also shown Saturn in 3-D by taking two pictures one opposition apart.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Would the moon phase between two days be too different for that method to work?

[@rickbria8420]

@@AstronomyGarage It does work. you must do a close-up though. and not close to the terminator. It’s easy enough to try it. It also shows that sometimes the Moon is getting closer or farther away from the Earth one night to another. I have examples I could send you.

[@AlexDiesTrying]

@@AstronomyGarage Yes and no. Problem is that waiting days means you have different terminators. But there is another trick although I haven't calculated the benefits: the Moon's orbit isn't circular. And that causes the moon to not always points exactly the same way. If you're patient enogh, you can shoot full moons with different angles. But I have neither calculated nor done it, so I might be wrong.

[@jasonspringfield5601]

Thanks, John. I could see it. It reminds me of those 3D posters from the 90s. Also, I look forward to seeing you next month at the TAS meeting.

[@AstronomyGarage]

I'm glad it worked for you. The presentation will be based on the video I'm working on now. Hopefully an interesting one (hahaha).

[@sjpp71]

I saw it!! Cool! Thanks you!

[@Treasureintheland]

Cool! I was able to see it. Thanks for making another great video :)

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thank you for watching! Clear skies.

[@AlbertTamayoMusic]

Very cool cross-eye 3d image of the moon 😎

[@AstronomyGarage]

Haha, it takes a bit of practice, but then it's easy.

[@curronhill2744]

Cool! I can see it. Nice video, thanks.

[@JANDLWOODWORKING]

That is so cool!!! Thank you for this!!

[@AstronomyGarage]

I hope you get a chance to try it out. With tonight's full Moon, it should be a great show.

[@astralfields1696]

That's a pretty cool idea, thanks!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thank you. I'm a fan (and subscriber) of your videos!

[@willdouglass4800]

Thanks for the great video John! As always informative and entertaining 😂

[@StuffyToaster]

That was fun! The thumb trick really works although the image only lasts a moment for me. Maybe with some practice…

[@AstronomyGarage]

I'm glad it worked for you. I can keep it for about ten seconds.

[@AlexDiesTrying]

For the people who struggle with the crosseye method: here's how it clicked for me... Focus on your finger between your eyes and the picture You might see two blurry overlapping moons between the original ones. Tilt your head until both moons are at the same height. All 4 moons should line up instead of being tilted somehow. Shift the position of your finger to get both inner moons to align vertically, too. When you see only three moons, you're half there. Here comes the part nobody told me: my brain needed a full 15 minutes of practice to adjust the focus. I gave up a lot of times because the middle moon stayed blurry. So, if you're like me, try to get that third moon in the middle to align and then simply be patient.

[@AstronomyGarage]

That's an excellent point. When I really cross my eyes, the up/down do start to differ.

[@DoghouseFunkBlaster65]

Cool 3D Effect! Thanks!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Glad to hear it!

[@1963pipo]

Yes. Seen it. Cool…😎

[@AstronomyGarage]

Great news!

[@bf99ls]

Almost succeeded. Occasionally got three moons! One in the centre and others left and right. I know it SHOULD work, but my eyes start to water, I blink, and it’s game over.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thank you for trying. I know a few folks that the stereograms just don't work out for.

[@marscrumbs]

Done something like this during an annular eclipse. While didn’t see a round moon but made anagraphs of the moon in front of the sun.

[@AstronomyGarage]

That sounds pretty cool. Did you use special software to make the anagraph colors?

[@marscrumbs]

@@AstronomyGarage not that special. I have a Fuji w3 3D camera and found a program that splits .mpo files or combines and two files to make stereographs or anagraphs. I just took different images over a few minutes of that eclips maximum. Photo snapped with my iPhone thru my 10’ reflecting with a solar filter.

[@OldCurmudgeon3DP]

Might work well using Cardboard if you get the image spacing just right.

[@AstronomyGarage]

That's a really good idea!

[@MatthewHolevinski]

wonderful video

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thank you for watching. It'll be a full moon tonight, so it should be perfect for some new 3D photos.

[@briebel2684]

Hah, that's wild. I can see the 3d effect though.

[@RKClements]

Cool! Got it!

[@wattswheelhouse]

I live in NH, let me know when and I'll send you a pic! 😆 Also, the stereoscopic effect worked for me!

[@AstronomyGarage]

I'm glad it worked for you! Clear skies!

[@BommeltjeNL]

I couldn’t see the third image of the Moon. It might have something to do with the fact that I’m blind in one eye 😂

[@AstronomyGarage]

Well, thank you for watching the video. I very much appreciate it. :)

[@ivangottapseudonym8849]

wonderful

[@OrionGold]

Hey I live here in Phoenix and enjoyed this vid! Also like the orion 10 " rebuild vid as i have the 8" model im preparing to mount on an eq6r i just picked up. Too bad i dont really know what im doing so wish me luck!

[@AstronomyGarage]

It's the most fun when you don't know what you're doing. I stumble my way through most of my telescope restortions, lol.

[@bazpearce9993]

Dogs use a similar technique to identify the direction of a sound. It's why they tilt their heads while listening. Sorry but the the thumb technique didn't work for me. But neither do 3-D glasses, so maybe it's not possible for me.

[@AstronomyGarage]

That's interesting - I didn't know that about dogs.

[@StuffyToaster]

It just occurred to me that last night I captured a reasonably clean time lapse of the eclipse. The start and finish frames are about 4 hours apart. If I edit out the az-el field rotation I might be able to get this to work

[@AstronomyGarage]

You should give it a try!

[@niteman555]

I can generate the composite image, but it seems my eyes are focusing at the point in space where the two images converge so it blurs out

[@jimbop6614]

Wow!! I see 3D with red and blue 3D cardboard glasses. Just kidding. 😊 Very interested about real 3D.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Haha, I'd like to try the red/blue method, but that is beyond my talents.

[@jimbop6614]

@@AstronomyGarageha ha ha

[@johalats]

Very nice.., how about Greek subtitles.??.!..

[@AmatureAstronomer]

Neat!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thank you for watching. It'll be a full moon tonight, so it should be perfect for some new 3D photos.

[@slam_down]

I have very good eyesight, but when I do the cross-eye trick the middle image is just a bright blurred circular disc with color fringes around the edges. Any tips on how to retain sharpness?

[@AstronomyGarage]

I've found it helps to view it on a smaller screen like a phone or in a small laptop screen.

[@paulradford4100]

That is just plain craziness.. but for some reason it just works.. Ps, for those of us that are good with magic eye images, your thumb probably isn't necessary..

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thanks for watching!

[@paulradford4100]

@@AstronomyGarage thanks for sharing..

[@DavidMFChapman]

I can see it.

[@AstronomyGarage]

It's fun. Anybody can take these 3D moon photos.

[@DavidMFChapman]

@@AstronomyGarage so the way I understand it, you are counting on lunar libration to rotate the view of the Moon between 2 identical phases, yes?

[@AstronomyGarage]

Right. It's a matter of "how much". Over the span of time required (few hours) to get the slight view change, the shadow terminator does move a little bit (you can see it in my two photos where one shows a crater and the other doesn't).

[@10intexas]

Now if I can only get my eyes to uncross...

[@mrmaxaxl]

I tried many times and it doesn't work. I'm angry now 😡

[@AstronomyGarage]

Does the middle image show up when you move your thumb toward your nose?

[@mrmaxaxl]

@@AstronomyGarageYes it did. But then it fades away and I see 2. I have a headache for trying many times. Where exactly should I hold my thumb first? in the middle of the 2 moons? or over one? How far back/close to my nose should I pull my thumb until the 3d moon appears?

[@AstronomyGarage]

I hold my thumb in between. Then focus on my thumb as I pull it toward my nose. Eventually, a middle image starts to converge and I keep moving my thumb until the middle image converges. Once that happens, withdraw your thumb from the view and try to continue looking at the middle image.

[@mrmaxaxl]

@@AstronomyGarage Thank you. I'll try again

[@Real-Tecnica]

I see two (@)(@)😂

[@cody3504]

I don’t remember asking