The Assos Eclipse Adventure

From the photographer: “It’s not every day you get to watch a total lunar eclipse from the ancient city of Assos. For the September 7, 2025 eclipse, I secured a special permit to stay on the archaeological grounds after hours.

The plan was to capture the eclipsed Moon rising over the volcanic promontory, with the Temple of Athena at the peak. To make it happen, I set up two cameras—one at the temple and another about 4.4 km away on a hillside. This second camera, with a 500mm telephoto lens, was positioned to capture the moonrise from a distance.

The eclipse itself was a stunning sight. I’d describe it as a Danjon scale 2, a little darker than expected, and my first total lunar eclipse visible from Turkey since 2018. Despite some clouds and haze, it was a beautiful experience.

This photo shows the partially eclipsed Moon rising over the hill, with the village of Behramkale in the foreground. It was a true adventure, and I’m thrilled with the result! The second picture shows me and my telescope in the center.”