How to Photograph a Total Lunar Eclipse with a Dwarf Smart Astrophotography Telescope

Photographing a total lunar eclipse is one of the most rewarding experiences in astrophotography. Watching the Moon transition from bright white to deep red—and capturing every phase along the way—creates a unique opportunity for both single images and creative composites.

For the total lunar eclipse on March 3rd, 2026, I photographed the event from the Texas Panhandle using the Dwarf Mini mounted on the Dwarf tripod. Over the course of the eclipse, I captured 46 exposures spanning the partial phases before and after totality, as well as the total eclipse itself.

Smart telescopes like the Dwarf series simplify the process significantly, making lunar eclipse photography more accessible while still producing high-quality results.

Why Use a Dwarf Smart Telescope to Photograph a Lunar Eclipse?

Moon Tracking

One of the biggest challenges in lunar photography is keeping the Moon centered in the frame. The Dwarf handles this automatically with built-in tracking once you lock onto the Moon in Solar System mode. This allows you to focus on exposure adjustments instead of constantly repositioning your setup.

Stacking

Each image captured by the Dwarf is a stack of multiple exposures. In my case:

• 20 stacked images per exposure
• Experimented with 25 and 50 stacks during totality

During totality—when the Moon is much dimmer—increasing the number of stacked images produced slightly cleaner results with less noise.

My Approach to Photographing the Lunar Eclipse

For this eclipse, I captured:

• 25 exposures during the partial eclipse leading up to totality
• 10 exposures during totality
• 11 exposures during the partial eclipse after totality

I did not include the penumbral phase, as the shading is subtle.  Also, the Moon set before the eclipse fully completed.

One of the advantages of photographing a lunar eclipse is that it unfolds slowly. From the beginning of the partial phase through totality and back out again, the event can last several hours, giving you plenty of time to experiment.

Don’t feel like you need to get every shot perfect on the first attempt. Take multiple exposures, try different exposure and gain combinations, and refine your settings as the eclipse progresses.

The key throughout the entire event is:

Continuously adjust your exposure and gain as the brightness of the Moon changes

Dwarf Setup Steps for a Lunar Eclipse

Getting set up properly makes the entire session smoother.

1. Check Eclipse Timing

Use timeanddate.com to find precise timing for each phase based on your location.

2. Choose Your Location

Scout a location with:

• A clear view of the Moon’s path
• Minimal obstructions for several hours

3. Mount the Dwarf Telescope on a Stable Tripod

A solid setup helps ensure sharp stacked images throughout the session.

4. Connect an External Battery (Optional)

Battery life varies:

• Dwarf 3: ~4–6 hours
• Dwarf Mini: ~4 hours

If you plan to capture the entire eclipse, an external battery is a good safety net.

5. Level the Tripod and Telescope

Accurate leveling improves tracking performance.

6. Connect Your Phone or Tablet

The Dwarf Labs app is used control the telescope and view your results.

7. Align the Moon

• Manually swivel the telescope towards the moon
• Use the joystick in the app to center the Moon

8. Enter Solar System Mode

• Tap the icon in the top right
• Select Solar System → Moon → Camera icon

Tip: Selecting the correct object type (Moon) helps autofocus perform better.

9. Focus the Moon

• Use autofocus
• If needed, fine-tune with manual focus

10. Start Tracking

If you don’t see a promt to start Moon Tracking on the display:

• Go back to Solar System mode
• Select the Moon again and initiate tracking

11. Set Your Parameters

Set exposure, gain, Astro filter, and stacking settings based on the phase.  See my settings for the eclipse below.

12. Start Imaging

Press the shutter button and begin capturing.

Important: Check your images frequently and adjust settings as the eclipse progresses.

Lunar Eclipse Settings

Partial Eclipse Settings

As the Moon begins to enter Earth’s shadow:

• Exposure: 1/1200 → 1/40 sec
  • Start fast, then lengthen as the Moon darkens
• Gain: 0 → 60
  • Increase gradually
• Filter: Astro

Total Eclipse Settings (Blood Moon)

During totality, the Moon becomes dramatically dimmer:

• Exposure: 1–2 seconds
• Gain: ~60
• Filter: Astro

This is also where increasing stacking (25–50 frames) can improve image quality. 

What to Do With Your Photos When You’re Finished

Here are some ideas on what to do with your eclipse images when your finished with your total eclipse photo shoot.

1. A Single Blood Moon Image

Highlight totality with a clean, detailed shot of the red Moon.

2. Eclipse Phase Composite

Combine multiple phases into a single image showing the progression of the eclipse.

3. Landscape Composite

Overlay the different phases of the eclipse onto a separate night landscape image for a more artistic result.

4. Timelapse Video

Use software like Adobe Photoshop to create a timelapse sequence of the eclipse unfolding.

Conclusion

Photographing a lunar eclipse with a Dwarf smart telescope is one of the easiest ways to capture a complex astrophotography event. Features like tracking and in-camera stacking remove much of the technical barrier, allowing you to focus on timing and creative output.

The key to success is staying engaged throughout the entire eclipse:

• Monitor your exposures
• Adjust gain and exposure time as needed
• Capture enough frames for flexibility later

With a bit of planning and patience, you can come away with everything from a detailed close-up of the Blood Moon to a full composite that tells the story of the entire event.

Written by Martin Belan

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