A minor problem with an image taken on the moon

[Super Nova]

Or: How an Apollo astronaut has managed to transform himself into a double orb.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist (not jet) and I do not know whether this subject has been discussed elsewhere before or not, but strange things do happen - especially in a "Strange claims forum".

This is the NASA image AS11-40-5903 (since I'm not allowed to post links or images here, I have to do it this way)

www .hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/AS11-40-5903HR.jpg

There is no major problem with this image (at least I think so). Neil Armstrong takes a photo of Buzz Aldrin. There is a reflection in Buzz Aldrin's visor showing very clearly the silhouette of Neil Armstrong taking this photo.

Now there is another image AS16-114-18423 (actually two consecutive images) showing John Young (reflection in the visor) taking a photo of Charlie Duke.

history.nasa.gov/alsj/a16/AS16-114-18423HR.jpg

history.nasa.gov/alsj/a16/AS16-114-18424HR.jpg

This is a photo composition comparing these two images:

i12.tinypic.com/6k8zd40.jpg

In both images the visors are the same size, the same sun is shining, the light angle is almost the same, the position and distance of the astronauts to each other are almost the same, and all photos are taken with the same kind of Hasselblad camera. Now, how does it come the reflection in Buzz Aldrin's visor shows clearly the silhouette of Neil Armstrong (or at least the silhouette of an astronaut), but the reflection in Charlie Duke's visor shows clearly not the silhouette of John Young but rather a strange double orb? This is a contrast enhanced image of the double orb:

i11.tinypic.com/85zaset.jpg

There are no arms, no legs, no camera and no helmet (inclusive dark visor) visible. Only two bizarre white orbs hovering one above the other. Any rational explanation for this?

This is a photo of John Young in full size (the reflection in the visor seems not to be an astronaut either, but at least it is not a double orb):

history.nasa.gov/alsj/a16/AS16-113-18339HR.jpg

And this is the same John Young minimized to the reflected image size as it appears (or should appear) in the visor:

i1.tinypic.com/89g7zf8.jpg

There is not the slightest resemblance between the silhouette of John Young and the two hovering orbs in the reflection in Charlie Duke's visor. Here I can clearly distinguish between helmet, body and legs. Even the arms are vaguely perceptible. So, what could be wrong with these photos showing mysterious double orbs instead of astronauts? Just asking.


Have fun, and so long!

[modest]

http://history.nasa.gov/alsj/a16/AS16-114-18424HR.jpg

That's a normal lens flare.

From wiki's article on lens flare:

Originally Posted by wiki

For good optical systems and most images, flare is a secondary effect that is widely distributed across the image and thus not visible. But when an image includes a very bright light source, flare generated by a bright image region can have enough intensity to become very visible. The light produced by flare mechanisms superimposes broadly across the image, adding light to dark image regions and reducing image contrast...

The spatial distribution of the lens flare typically manifests as several starbursts, rings, or circles in a row across the image or view. Lens flare patterns typically spread widely across the scene and change location with the camera's movement relative to light sources, tracking with the light position and fading as the camera points away from the bright light until it causes no flare at all...

The sun shines very brightly on the moon just like in orbit because there's no atmosphere to impede the light. It's normal then to expect lens flare if the sun is directly in front of the camera as in the second two images you link.

The same shape of flare can be seen in this moon photo or this one (look at the blue in the lower right) and again in this earth photo.

~modest

[Super Nova]

That's a normal lens flare.

I see! So I have to correct myself:

An Apollo astronaut has managed to transform himself into a lens flare.

But this stays strange anyway.

The sun shines very brightly on the moon just like in orbit because there's no atmosphere to impede the light.

Are you sure about this? What about this image:

spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/apollo/apollo12/hires/as12-47-6921.jpg

The above moon photo looks like taken in a coal cellar.

And apropos the term "looks like": This photo looks like taken by means of a night-vision device (only the green tint is missing, because it is B/W film):

dayton.hq.nasa.gov/IMAGES/LARGE/GPN-2000-001266.jpg

Some people claim there is something wrong with the directions of the shadows in this image. But taking a closer look reveals also this photo is blurry, because apparently it was taken by a shaken camera without using a tripod:

i1.tinypic.com/870k8sz.jpg

Moreover the graininess of the image suggests the use of a highly light-sensitive Film.

So, are you really sure, the sun shines very brightly on the moon?


Happy moon gazing, and so long!

[Eclogite]

Originally Posted by Super Nova

The above moon photo looks like taken in a coal cellar.

The moon has one of the lowest albedos in the solar system. What do you expect?
Also, have you information on the f-stop this shot was taken with?

Originally Posted by Super Nova

So, are you really sure, the sun shines very brightly on the moon?

Yes. We know the brightness of the sun at the distance of the Earth and the moon. Would you agree this is known accurately?
We know there is no significant atmosphere on the moon? Would you agree with that statement?
Therefore, the suns rays can fall unimpeded on the lunar surface. Would you agree with that statement?

If you agree with all three statements then you agree with me that the sun shines brightly on the moon.

[modest]

Originally Posted by Super Nova

So, are you really sure, the sun shines very brightly on the moon?

Yes. There's no significant atmosphere on the moon like there is on earth. The atmosphere on earth blocks/reflects light especially at certain wavelengths. This is why it's easier to get a sunburn in Denver than Texas. If you're climbing Mt. Everest, massive amounts of eye protection and sunblock are a must. There's less atmosphere up there. It's also why astronauts need the protective gold visors they wear.

Atmosphere altitude/solar-irradiance plot

Shadows are also darker on the moon because there's no atmosphere to scatter light. The light is less ambient and more directional. There was a TV camera on Apollo 12 that was damaged beyond use when an astronaut accidentally pointed it at a bright reflection. It burnt out the imaging tube.

~modest

[freeztar]

Originally Posted by Super Nova

The above moon photo looks like taken in a coal cellar.

By looking at the shadows in that photo, it's apparent that the sunlight was striking the moon at a small angle. If the sun were directly above, it would look quite different (brighter).

So, are you really sure, the sun shines very brightly on the moon?

Hopefully this helps:

the Moon is actually not very reflective,the Sun is just very bright. The Moon reflects only about 11% of the sunlight that hits it. But the Sun is so bright that even this much reflection looks very bright to us. The rocks on the lunar surface are greyish volcanic rocks, and although there are small glass particles mixed in (which can be shiny), the overall mixture isn't really very reflective.

Curious About Astronomy: Why is the Moon so bright?