Journalist from Sorocaba (SP) photographs the partial lunar eclipse — Photo: Antonio Walter Barbero
A visually impaired journalist from Sorocaba (SP) managed to photograph the lunar eclipse that occurred between Thursday night (27) and Friday morning (28).
Antonio Walter Barbero, 45 years old, known as Teco, has low vision due to his disability. He explained to g1 the steps to record the phenomenon and spoke about some difficulties he faced due to difficulty seeing.
"Photographing the eclipse is not so easy, especially for people like me who have poor vision. When I look at the sky on a clear night, without clouds, I only see the luminosity and glare of the Moon", he says.
To capture it, Antonio used a camera with optical zoom. He explains that it was necessary to position the camera correctly so that it did not blur the phenomenon.
"Placing the camera in the ideal position is very difficult because, when you move the zoom, it ends up going out of focus. You have to look again and, at the same time, mark the position of the camera on your body so the photo doesn't go out of focus", he says.
To solve the focus problem, he says he usually rests the camera on his nose and his elbows on his torso.
"This camera has a movable viewfinder, I often move it, so the camera goes up and the viewfinder is more or less at eye level, more locked, resting on the nose. With this, I can support the camera so that it is well positioned, finds the Moon and can get the best angle", he concludes.
Visual impairment
Visually impaired, Antonio Walter Barbero, from Sorocaba (SP), photographs the partial lunar eclipse — Photo: Personal Archive
Antonio was born with a congenital visual impairment caused by the persistence of the primary vitreous, a structure that forms during the development of the eye, but which normally disappears before birth.
"Furthermore, I have some retinal lesions, so this is what ends up causing low vision. Normally, those who have my type of case don't see anything. The fact that I still have vision remains a mystery to medicine", he explains.
Teco says he has cataracts in his eyes and underwent surgery. He sees better with one eye.
"I see things very close up. I see everything that people see, just at a lower power. To see the clock, I put it very close to my eyes to be able to define the number. From afar, I see the shape of the clock, but I don't see the numbers", he says.
Antonio will give a lecture on inclusion and citizenship at the Children's Literature Fair at Academia Sorocabana de Letras this Saturday (29), from 9am to 12pm, in partnership with audio describer Angeles Paredes. The event will be held at Rua Guarani, 290, in Jardim Botelho.
More records in the region
The lunar eclipse is always a highly anticipated moment for the Clube Centauri de Astronomia de Itapetininga (SP). The members recorded the phenomenon and, for those who would not be able to view or follow it in the sky, the organization broadcast the moment live on social media.
The images were taken by physics professor Rodrigo Raffa. He told g1 that each of the viewers of the broadcast associated the eclipse with something different, such as celestial mechanics, beauty of nature or even religious issues.
The records were made by the physics professor and responsible for the astronomy club in Itapetininga — Photo: Personal archive/Clube Centauri de Itapetininga
"But it's a mutual appreciation, it delights everyone. As the shadow took over the moon, the redness began to appear and the participants were able to notice this variation, leaving the full moon, entering the shadow, and then the redness", reported Raffa.
The astronomical event was followed by more than 62 thousand people on the club's social networks. The transmission ended in the early hours of the morning, shortly after the peak of the lunar eclipse.
"I said: 'Wow, I'm going to finish the broadcast here at dawn, maybe tomorrow I'll wake up tired, I have to go teach'. And no, I woke up radiant. I woke up very excited, happy with the work that was done and the result. I can't wait for the next events like this", concluded the professor.
The culmination of the astronomical event occurred in the early hours of Friday (28) — Photo: Personal archive/Clube Centauri de Itapetininga
The Earth's shadow covering the natural satellite reinforces the planet's spherical shape, says professor — Photo: Personal archive/Clube Centauri de Itapetininga
The Moon was covered by the Earth's shadow on Thursday night (27) — Photo: Personal archive/Clube Centauri de Itapetininga
Itapetininga astronomy club records partial lunar eclipse between Thursday night (27) and Friday morning (28) — Photo: Personal archive/Clube Centauri de Itapetininga
*Collaborated under the supervision of Eric Mantuan
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