After realizing there was going to be cloud cover for the full moon, we decided to capture this image a day early. By calculating the moonrise time and angle, and sunset to the west of Mt. Bachelor, we hiked the perimeter of Elk Lake and expertly selected a worm and depth of the bobber. The water, still frigid from glacial ice melt, nearly gave my son frostbite on his toes. But realizing there were fewer mosquitoes out there than on shore he bravely tip-toed out. We measured the assumed depth of the lake at our designated post and painstakingly rolled the size 9 cotton blend boys athletic pants to high enough to allow no more than 8 mosquito bites per kneecap, but still somehow get drenched to the crotch. I instructed my son to turn his head to the Ra/dec position we mapped out on Sky Safari last week, adjusting for the change of date. I snapped this photo 18 times begging the 9 year old to hold his ground against the charging moose, and unfortunately he lowered his pole to the disappointing angle you see. While he was being treated for hypothermia and an imbedded fishing hook in his left heel at the urgent care clinic shortly after, I was able to process the photos on my iPhone and the hospital’s iffy WiFi. It just goes to show how poor preparation can flaw an otherwise pristine photo op.

iPhone 8S
Seriously.

Ha! Enlarged and cropped on my iPhone.