How to capture the color of the Moon
For most of the Moon, the top few meters of the lunar surface consists of a mix of minerals, whereas lower depths probably offer more uniform minerology from the old magma oceans. The mix on the surface is due to all the splashes of asteroid impacts which has mixed materials from distances. Changes in mineral content produce subtle color differences in reflected light.
The aim of this project is to use an exaggerated false-color scheme in order to explore the mineral composition of the lunar surface.
This color atlas of the Moon by Filipe Alves (http://www.atalaia.org/filipe/moon/colorofthemoon.htm) is taken as a prototype.
The following equipment has been used :
Optics |
Vixen ED 81S |
Mount |
Vixen GP, Skysensor 2000 PC |
Camera |
DMK21AU04 |
Filters |
Astronomik LRGB Type IIc |
| Filter Wheel | ATIK Electric Filter Wheel |
Date |
24 May, 2010 |
Location |
Korinthos, Greece |
Exposure |
R: 3 min video (5500 frames); 1/16 sec exposure G: 3 min video (5500 frames); 1/16 sec exposure B: 3 min video (5500 frames); 1/16 sec exposure |
Programs used |
IC Capture, Registax 5, Photoshop, MaximDL |
These are the final images, for each color channel, after processing the video files in Registax.
A RGB composition follows in MaximDL.
RGB is resized and High Pass Kernel filter is applied two times.
Then image is imported in Photoshop and Auto Color Balance with Auto Levels is performed.
Back to MaximDL, image saturation is enhanced by three steps of 170%.
This is the final result!
Do you find any similarities with the Color Atlas of the Moon?