Lunar
The Moon (15% Illumination)
The Moon photographed by amateur astrophotographer Pete Lawrence: Earth's only natural satellite, 240,000 miles away and 4.51 billion years old.
Target details
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite and one of the largest moons in the Solar System. It orbits about 240,000 miles away on average – just over one light-second. It formed around 4.51 billion years ago, not long after Earth, most likely from debris thrown out when a Mars-sized body called Theia crashed into the young Earth. The Moon always keeps the same face towards us, and that near side is a patchwork of dark volcanic plains, the maria, between bright ancient highlands and sharp impact craters.
Capture details
Data captured 19th April, 2018.
600x 1/250 second exposures at ISO100.
Equipment details
Skywatcher Quattro 200 CF
NEQ6 Pro
Nikon d7100
Processing details
This image was processed in Registax, Pixinsight & Lightroom.
Alignment & Stacking completed in Registax, best 40% of images, exported as 32bit FIT.
Stacked image imported into Lightroom.
Histogram Transformation - To stretch the image, it was a bit too bright.
Deconvolution - To recover lost detail, with range mask to protect background.
Unsharpmask - To sharpen very slightly, using previous rangemask.
Local Histogram Equalisation - To recover some contrast, using previous rangemask.
Curves Transformation - To darken the darker lunar areas and mid's slightly, using previous rangemask.
Export as JPEG and import into Lightroom.
Multiple graduated filters to reduce exposure by 1 stop around outer disc to get even exposure across surface.
Reduce Contrast (-50)
Reduce Highlights (-5)
Reduce Whites (-25)
Reduce Blacks (-25)
Export final JPEG for upload.
Quick facts
- What is The Moon?
- The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite and one of the largest moons in the Solar System. It orbits about 240,000 miles away on average – just over one light-second.
- When was this photo taken?
- 19 April 2018
- What equipment was used?
- Skywatcher Quattro 200 CF, NEQ6 Pro, Nikon d7100
- Where was it taken from?
- Lisburn, Northern Ireland.