Why are there two moons in my digital picture?

Question

I recently took a picture of the full moon with my digital camera and there is a double moon effect going on; the moon all big and bright with a faint reflection-like moon down and to the left. I don't know how this happened because my flash was off. Is it a reflection in my lens, or is something else going on?

I have a 7.1MP SLR type camera

Ok, I need to be more thurough: I froze my hiney and took the photo outside, not through a window. The moon is as clear as could be expected, as parts of it are cloud covered. The other 'moon' is dark and blueish, however it is just as clear as the first one. There is no blurring or streaks between the two.

Answer 1

I've gotten a double image like that when I was shooting a solar eclipse. What happened was the lens was just slightly out of focus. That caused the image to split in two, because of all the refraction inside the lens. Technically speaking, you have lens flare.

Shooting the full moon is just a little tricky. First, you must use a tripod, because you'll want to use a telephoto lens. Second, you need to set it to manual, because an automatic exposure will expose for the ambient light (the darkness around the moon). The moon is lit by the sun, so you would use the same exposure you use on a sunny day.

I hope this helps. If you want, I can send you a copy of my failed solar eclipse shot, or my successful full moon shot.

Answer 2

There are a few ways that you could end up getting a faint reflection of the moon. The most easy explanation as others have suggested is lens flare, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lens_flare
Aside from lens flare the other cause of this problem is that you used a considerably long shutter speed, and during that time you moved slightly and shifted so as to create a second exposure of the moon. However, you would typically see some blurring of the image, but you did not mention the image was blurred. Another issue could be shoddy craftsmanship in terms of the lens production. Typically the inside of the lens is coated matte black, but if there were any parts that were not properly coated you could be getting reflections inside the lens. Although a double exposure was suggested, unfortunately unlike a film camera in which you can release the forwarding clutch so as to take two exposures on one frame, you cant create a traditional double exposure with a digital camera. As for the idea that the flash was somehow involved in creating the double image are you perhaps suggesting that you were behind a window? If that was the case perhaps you could have been getting a reflection off the window, as windows can act like mirrors. Really without seeing the image it is really hard to pinpoint what the issue may have been.

Answer 3

Did you take the photo outside or through a window? How sharp is the moon in the image and how sharp is the "other moon"? I have some suspicions but I'd have to see the image. Send the image to [e-mail] and I will be able to answer this question.

http://www.straightshots.co.nz

Answer 4

Your going to hear alot of of comments about orbs. The image you are seeing however, from a digital camera especially is reflection of light off of dust particles in the air. Digital cameras are notorious for the round moon.

Answer 5

It's because the camera has a farily cheap lens which is causing reflections inside of it. They are always there, but you just notice it when you have a bright object (moon) against a dark background (sky)

Answer 6

probably double exposure or you moved before the camera shutter finish capturing the image, resulting in a blur pic of the moon.

Answer 7

Probably flare. Or reflections off of the filter on the sensor. Common in bright, contrasty light.

Get yourself a Leica, a Summicron, and some real film and you will not suffer this.

Answer 8

YEAH, IT COULD BE.

BUT SOMETIMES, FOR SOME REASON, IT HAPPENED WITH MY BOYFRIEND'S DIGITAL CAMERA, THERE WAS NO MOON HE WAS TAKING A PICTURE OF, HOWEVER IN THE PICTURE IT LOOKED LIKE ONE, SO I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT HAPPENS, BUT IT COULD JUST BE SOME TPE OF REFLECTION OFF OF SOMTHING ELSE OR SOMETHING, YES.

Answer 9

I get that ball of light thing in some pictures too

Answer 10

you must be in another galaxy