Crater Gassendi: A Glimpse of Lunar Grandeur

Last night, the Moon presented a spectacular sight, and I managed to capture this stunning image of the Gassendi crater. Located near the terminator line, where sunlight dramatically illuminates the lunar surface, Gassendi offers a remarkable perspective on our celestial neighbor.

For a sense of scale, this impressive crater stretches an astonishing 68 miles (110km) in diameter. The rugged mountain ranges within and surrounding Gassendi rise to approximately 1.4 km, showcasing the immense geological forces that shaped the Moon over billions of years.

The Astrophotography Process

Capturing this image involved a dedicated setup and meticulous processing:

• Equipment:
  • Zwo ASI 678MC camera
  • IR-UV cut filter
  • 2x Barlow lens
  • Celestron Nexstar 130slt telescope
• Acquisition: I acquired 20,000 frames.
• Processing: The best 55% of these frames were stacked and processed using PIPP, Autostakkert! 3, and Wavesharp.

It's always rewarding to bring these details of the Moon into focus, revealing the intricate beauty of its surface. Keep looking up!