M101 - in UV - from the MOON!

[pluto (Hugh)]

Not sure if this has been posted but I must have missed this when it was released.
Anyway this is an image from the Lunar Based Ultraviolet Telescope on the Chang'e 3 lander: http://www.planetary.org/multimedia/...galaxy-in.html

Of course we've seen astrophotography previously from other robots on other celestial bodies but I don't think I've ever seen a long exposure image of a DSO. Very cool

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

That is pretty cool, first DSO image taken from another Solar System body that I can recall..?

Mike

[Somnium (Aidan)]

That is pretty damn cool, obviously no darks, flats and offset bias shots applied though

[pluto (Hugh)]

I'm pretty sure I've seen some clusters imaged by the MSL and maybe the MERs (not necessarily on purpose) but I can't recall ever seeing a galaxy or nebula image from the surface of any other body than Earth.
It would be hard enough getting that M101 image on Earth, even just luminance, let alone trying to do it remotely from the Moon.
On the plus side though you don't have to worry about tracking or guiding (I think this is a 10 minute exposure), nice looooong nights, and no clouds or wind etc... actually sounding pretty good now I think about it...

[N1 (Mirko)]

Originally Posted by pluto

On the plus side though you don't have to worry about tracking or guiding (I think this is a 10 minute exposure), nice looooong nights, and no clouds or wind etc... actually sounding pretty good now I think about it...

That's nothing compared to the main advantage of being there: being able to create a total solar eclipse with your pinky whenever you want (while the sun is up)