| Some of the most interesting and challenging objects on the
moon lie close to the limb where their true shape is distorted by
foreshortening. For example the Sky
and Telescope Lunar 100 list contains about 10 objects where the
viewing angle is 20° or less.
A new program called PlanetWarp allows you to compensate for this
effect and reproduce lunar images as though you are viewing the surface
from directly overhead. As a result the true shape of libration zone
features , such as the circular nature of Mare Orientale and its ring
mountains are much easier to see. The program works with any lunar or
planetary image which includes at least some of the limb.
As well as correcting close-up images the software can artificially
rotate a full disc to produce crescent views impossible to see from
Earth.
PlanetWarp is shareware available for a fully functional 30 day trial
from AstroSpider.com |
Click on the thumbnail to see how an image of the full moon has been
rotated to produce a half phase that could only be seen from space. Easy
to use sliders allow you to adjust the output image for any viewing
angle.
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