March 19, 2009 Cloud Detail (Personal Project for 100 Hours of Astronomy, April 2-5 IYA2009) To make this image, several MEX-VMC images acquired on March 19, 2008 were used, specifically: 09-078_19.26.32_VMC_Img_No_2.png, 09-078_19.27.25_VMC_Img_No_3.png, 09-078_19.29.12_VMC_Img_No_5.png and 09-078_19.30.05_VMC_Img_No_6.png. All the images were aligned and resized in Photoshop. The two darkest images, No. 2 and No. 6 were averaged (No 2 at 50% opacity). Contrast was adjusted to bring out cloud detail in the non-overexposed region. Then image No. 3 was added to the stack, and a fuzzy layer mask added to image No. 3 that corresponded to the overexposed portion of image No. 3, yet would allow the grays of the No. 2/No. 6 combination image to show through. Next, the brightest image No. 5 was added, with a fuzzy layer mask added that corresponded to the overexposed portion of image No. 5, yet would allow the grays of No. 3 (and also No. 2/No. 6 combination) image to show through. This stack was contrast enhanced using curves and levels. This image was then Gaussian blurred gently (0.4 pixel), then an Unsharp mask was applied. Residual color information was removed using a Black & White adjustment layer. A camera artifact near the crescent edge was removed using clone stamp and a Gaussian blur of a selected region. Finally, a second contrast adjustment was performed using Curves and Levels. With this technique, the full detail of the cloud patterns observed by the MEX-VMC camera can be revealed across the crescent Mars. Mike Malaska Chapel Hill, North Carolina USAOur first public submission of the new VMC blog comes as part of the International Year of Astronomy project - 100 Hours of Astronomy. Mike Malaska of North Carolina, USA, decided to work on the latest batch of VMC images as part of his contribution to this project. Mike's work really brings out the detail of the cloud dynamics swirling above Mars in the latest photos - read on to see how he did it.

 

19 March 2009 - Cloud Detail
My personal project for 100 Hours of Astronomy, 2-5 April IYA2009

To make this image, several MEX VMC images acquired on 19 March 2009 were used, specifically:

09-078_19.26.32_VMC_Img_No_2.png
09-078_19.27.25_VMC_Img_No_3.png
09-078_19.29.12_VMC_Img_No_5.png
09-078_19.30.05_VMC_Img_No_6.png

All the images were aligned and resized in Photoshop.  The two darkest images, No. 2 and No. 6, were averaged (No 2 at 50% opacity). Contrast was adjusted to bring out cloud detail in the non-overexposed region. Then image No. 3 was added to the stack, and a fuzzy layer mask added to image No. 3 that corresponded to the overexposed portion of image No. 3, yet would allow the grays of the No. 2/No. 6 combination image to show through. Next, the brightest image No. 5 was added, with a fuzzy layer mask added that corresponded to the overexposed portion of image No. 5, yet would allow the grays of No. 3 (and also the No. 2/No. 6 combination) image to show through. This stack was contrast-enhanced using curves and levels. This image was then gently Gaussian-blurred (0.4 pixel), then an Unsharp mask was applied.  Residual color information was removed using a Black & White adjustment layer. A camera artifact near the crescent edge was removed using the clone stamp and a Gaussian blur of a selected region. Finally, a second contrast adjustment was performed using Curves and Levels. With this technique, the full detail of the cloud patterns observed by the MEX VMC camera can be revealed across the crescent Mars.

Mike Malaska
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
USA

Thanks very much to Mike for this submission!

Please do submit your own work (for more details see Help us with the VMC) and leave comments below with any comments or opinions on this image!