The Hidden Colors of the Moon: Astonishing Photography with 150,000 Combined Images

The use of "false color" to detect hidden features on the surface of an object or region is relatively common. Some readers may recall the mosaic based on 53 images of the Moon obtained by the Galileo spacecraft in 1992, but if you want to see the latest in lunar photography with a true explosion of colors, look no further than the profile of astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy, who used a total of 150,000 images to extract color data representing the impacts of multiple minerals.

Astrophotography is much more than pointing a lens at the sky. Besides the right equipment, it is a practice that requires patience, dedication, and a solid command of the main digital tools. Of course, nothing stops you from taking a shot and declaring your work finished, but if you expect to get images at the level of those published by astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy, that will not be enough. McCarthy recently shook the web with a spectacular 81-megapixel image of the Moon. That photograph was achieved with a ZWO ASI224MC astro-camera, a Sony Alpha A7 II (we talked about its big sister A7 III last December), the AutoStakkert! tool, Adobe Photoshop, and a base of 50,000 images. However, his efforts did not conclude there. Look at this:

The hidden colors of the Moon

While working on his 81-megapixel photo, McCarthy decided to extract color data from 150,000 frames to create an enhanced image of the Moon. McCarthy explains that the color "was already there," hidden behind the lunar albedo. Basically, it is what we would see if our eyes were much more sensitive to color. Blue tones represent a high titanium content, and orange tones go in the opposite direction. Why did he need so many images? In reality, he captured them to neutralize the effects of atmospheric turbulence (blurry images), and to eliminate any excess noise recorded by the sensor. In addition to the Sony and the ZWO, McCarthy also used an Orion XT10 telescope (750 dollars on average) and an automatic Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro head of 1,600 dollars.

In total, McCarthy obtained 142,000 images with the ZWO, another 2,000 with the Sony mirrorless, and the rest with a 300-millimeter lens. Once again, he combined AutoStakkert! with Photoshop, adjusted contrast, sharpness and saturation to taste. The result is visible, but if you want to know more about McCarthy and his astrophotography sessions, feel free to visit his official Instagram profile.

Source: PetaPixel