Digital Imaging and Photography → What Color is the Moon, Really?

Thanks everyone.

Sorry, I should have posted exposure details before...

This image is a mosaic of 15 separate and slightly overlapping 8.2 megapixel images from my Canon EOS-20D (unmodified), taken in Raw mode and converted and stitched together in Photoshop CS2. As you can see from the EXIF data, the exposures were each 1/5 second at ISO 100.

Though the moon is generally made of gray, dusty material it is very bright, photographically, since it is bathed in sunlight.

I mounted my 20D to my Meade LX200 GPS UHTC 10" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope via my 2x Televue Powermate (a focal length doubler, similar to a teleconverter, which also serves to mate my camera to the 2" telescope eyepiece tube). Effective focal length was 5000mm f/20.

Looking through the viewfinder I swept across the surface in a zig-zag fashion, trying for about 1/3 overlap between frames. I triggered the shutter with my TC80-N3 remote timer/controller. I did the stitching by hand in Photoshop.

Since it is tremendously downsized from the original mosaic, which was almost 40 megapixels, and was taken at the camera's most noise-free setting (ISO 100), the data is very accurate, and thus I was able to strongly increase the saturation via Photoshop's Image - Adjust - Hue/Saturation function.

-Noel

I hope you sent that picture to the Nasa site!

Fantastic. Simply fantastic!

I am honored to have the privilege of being able view your work Mr.Carboni. Absolutely amazing stuff.

Very beautiful! Thanks for posting it!

Gorgeous Image!

absolutely stunning. GREAT work.

I think this just might be my second favorite photo of all time, and I mean that as very high praise.

My number one? The cover of National Geographic some years ago (20? 25?) with the Afghan girl or young woman with the blazing green eyes and dirty face.

But this picture of the moon is every bit as stunning. Great work, Noel!

Tim

Wow!

Noel, 1920x1200 please??

i hate begging for free items, but i'd also appreciate 1920x1200 if it's not too much trouble. your image/artistry is good enough to attract a wide audience!

Noel, this is absolutely amazing.

At least as many if not more. But the earth being a dynamic and living planet they get covered and erased, as well as many under water. (Which of course created massive tsunamis at the time.

There is the big one out west in the desert that can be seen. One blew up just before hitting, but flattened nd scorched several hundred sq miles of forests in Siberia just early last century.

So any recollection on just how far you pushed that?

I am just absolutely blown away by your incredible shot of the moon, Sir!

My utmost compliments to you on your work, and on your skill in putting the shots all together, to create such a stunning work of art. I'm another one who has just replaced my desktop with your widescreen shot of the moon -- it's absolutely stunning!

wow, just...wow....utterly speechless.

quote: Looks like there are several who use 1920 x 1200

thank you sir! i just built a new pc, and hadn't even bothered to replace the default winxp desktop wallpaper yet. your image will look great!

Awesome Noel!! Like the others, I have a new background!!

AWESOME!!!

Do you have any of your work published? I am in awe of your photos you have in your gallery on here.

Incredible work Noel. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks. I'm working on an astronomy picture book called "Starscapes" right now. Hopefully I'll have it ready by November or December.

-Noel

Words fail me, as has been said, this ranks right up there with some of the most stunning shots I have ever seen!
And as most others, it's now my desktop!

I'll need to know when/where this book is available! I've enjoyed your work here on DSLR for quite some time, and will be "in line" to purchase your work.

Totally amazing. Gorgeous.

Congrats, you just made the front page on Digg:

»digg.com/space/Amazing_P ··· the_Moon

Fantastic image!

I think I see a Burger King opening up for business in that little blue crater to the lower left .
Nice picture NoelC.

Top notch compilation.

Edit: It looks great on the desktop. Many thanks.