ShahGazer Rambling about Astrophotography, Coding and Clouds

I did a quick look at the current 4 sets of moon mosaic, and finally can compile a series of photos showing the different texture on the surface due to the angle of the sun. I've been wanting to do this for quiet a while. So, here it the first set, aiming at the craters Aristoteles and Eudoxus, at the northern tip (near Plato) of the moon

This is another moon mosaic, taken on the 30th July 2012. The moon is 11.42 days old. However, I had some teething problem when using the photomerge function in Photoshop CS3. It took quiet before it was finally solved this evening. Click here for the 2500 pixel version (50% reduced from the original size)

This is yet another mosaic of the Moon (12.48 days old), taken on the 31st July 2012. It's a combination of 69 video files, and took me almost a day to complete the mosaic!  I have reduced 50% from its original resolution. Somehow the link from the photo above goes to the 1600x1600 size. Click HERE for the 2500x2500 version .

This is the edited version from the previous 6.5 days old moon mosaic. I've pushed up the levels, curves and brightness to reveal more features, especially towards the terminator.

This is another moon mosaic. A total of 30 individual video files, stacked with Autostakkert, and merge in Photoshop. Unfortunately a couple of frames were way off focus. I should have check it much more closely during each shot. The moon's tone was also a bit tricky. I need to readjust slightly for almost half the video files, in order to avoid saturation. That however, created another headache in Photoshop, where I need to readjust the brightness again and again.

Finally, after almost a day of stacking and combining in photoshop, this is it. My latest Moon mosaic, from 21 individual video files.  I am very happy with the results, not perfect, but by far the most satisfying so far. Images were taken using the following equipment Skywatcher 120ED, f/15 (2x barlow) QHY IMG132E camera. EQ6 mount. Click HERE for the 'almost' full size. I'm not sure why when I uploaded to blogspot, the size were reduced when we click on the image above.

This is my humble attempt to get the highest resolution photo of the Moon taken from my home observatory. Incredible camera IMG132E. 2X barlowed my 120ED Skywatcher. Moon South Pole, my favorite spot.

(Click for 100%) Here is the final image of the moon taken yesterday. A mosaic of 23 video files. Unfortunately some of the files did not aligned well, and created some unfortunate bump at the lower left limb. However, I am quiet happy with the initial results. I have a 5x barlow waiting to be used with the scope, but the weather wasn't steady for planetary last night. Stars twinkling like mad! Date: 5th March 2012 Time: 16:30 UT (12:30am 6th March Malaysia) Moon 13.23 days old. illumination 93.5%.  Skywatcher 120ED, f/7.5,  Camera = DBK 21AU04.AS Stacked, stretched using Registax 6 and Photoshop CS3

I simply loved a daylight moon. The lack of contrast between the sky and the moon surface, especially at the Lunar Maria area somehow gave it a peaceful and kind of a sad, appearance. This shot was taken this morning (14 Feb 2012) using Canon 550D,  SW 80ED, ISO200 and 1/1600 sec exposure.