Greater Surface Detail

This graphic compares the enhanced resolution of the LOIRP image and the highest resolution image available online at LPI. This image was taken on 23 August 1966 and restored by the Lunar Orbiter Image Recovery Project at NASA Ames Research Center. Larger image. Credit: NASA/LOIRP

2 Replies to “Greater Surface Detail”

  1. I don’t know about the rest of you, but to ME the original lunar orbiter photo looks MUCH better than the “enhanced” LOIRP image. What exactly is this improvement supposed to be?? I confess I am baffled by this unless the pictures are mislabeled.
    -walter

  2. The LOIRP data has not been “enhanced” at all. There is a lot of work to do, including removing the seams (perhaps by filtering a discrete Fourier transform), increasing the contrast, etc.. The contrast in the original photo is what makes it look so much better, but if you look closely, particularly in the shadows or the calibration data at the bottom, you’ll see the LOIRP data has details that are missing from the other. Once it is enhanced, then you’ll be able to tell how much better the data is.

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