Enhanced LRO Images of the Apollo 14 Landing Site

Following are deconvolved and enhanced versions of the raw LRO images of the Apollo 14 landing site. These deconvolved and enhanced LRO images show considerably more detail in comparison to the LRO's raw images. The raw LRO images, merely with adjustments to brightness and contrast, are what have been published by both Arizona State University and NASA. All of GoneToPlaid's deconvolved and enhanced images, after processing, were then resampled to have identical image scales along the X and Y axes. Horizontal versus vertical image scale accuracy is in the neighborhood of 2%.

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Clicking on "TIF Image" will open the original lossless and higher quality TIF version of the associated JPEG image.

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Photo Credits: All original LRO photos credit NASA/GSFC/ASU. All deconvolved and enhanced LRO photos credit NASA/GSFC/ASU/GoneToPlaid.

LRO Apollo 14 Image Information
NAC Image Name Date Time LM LM Mission Slew X Scale Y Scale Incidence Solar Incidence Comments
      Location Location Phase Angle (m/pixel) (m/pixel) Angle Altitude Direction  
      (Column) (Row) Name (degrees)     (degrees) (degrees)    
M102265088LE 07/15/2009 02:43:41 4705 18230 COMMISSIONING -11.26 1.07 1.08 76.23 13.77 west Published first look
M104627085LE 08/11/2009 10:50:18 3008 28682 COMMISSIONING -5.60 1.06 1.10 50.38 39.62 west Stereo Pair #1
M104634241LE 08/11/2009 12:49:34 3108 29071 COMMISSIONING 12.34 1.09 1.09 51.38 38.62 west Stereo Pair #1
M106985205LE 09/07/2009 17:52:18 2842 15306 COMMISSIONING -9.92 1.14 1.14 23.82 66.18 west  
M109345337LE 10/05/2009 01:27:49 4041 20021 NOMINAL -13.90 0.51 0.55 3.77 86.23 west  
M111708164LE 11/01/2009 09:48:16 2822 17379 NOMINAL 2.00 0.48 0.55 29.87 60.13 east  
M114064206LE 11/28/2009 16:15:39 3406 48880 NOMINAL -17.90 0.50 0.55 57.86 32.14 east Stereo Pair #2
M114071006LE 11/28/2009 18:08:59 4588 2245 NOMINAL 20.00 0.52 0.55 56.94 33.06 east Stereo Pair #2
M114071006RE 11/28/2009 18:08:59 ? 2245 NOMINAL 20.00 0.51 0.55 57.02 32.98 east Rest of landing site area
M116425798LE 12/26/2009 00:15:31 4080 13304 NOMINAL -6.79 0.46 0.55 85.43 4.57 east Underexposed
M117609776RE 01/08/2010 17:08:29 2925 49685 NOMINAL 2.80 0.41 0.55 80.85 9.15 west  
M119971387RE 02/05/2010 01:08:41 2961 59136 NOMINAL -10.73 0.42 0.55 53.37 36.63 west  
M124687860RE 03/31/2010 15:16:34 3043 49468 NOMINAL 0.77 0.42 0.55 5.98 84.02 east  
M127049821RE 04/27/2010 23:22:36 2816 50849 NOMINAL -15.32 0.43 0.55 29.12 60.88 east  
M129404545RE 05/25/2010 05:27:58 2983 25223 NOMINAL 13.08 0.43 0.55 55.93 34.07 east  
M131765772RC 06/21/2010 13:21:44 3109 2167 NOMINAL 0.82 0.40 0.55 81.84 8.16 east  
M132943081RC 07/05/2010 04:23:33 3345 20983 NOMINAL 2.00 0.45 0.55 84.47 5.53 west  
Apollo 14

Image M102265088LE, NASA/GSFC/ASU published "first look" at the Apollo 14 landing site, photographed on July 15, 2009 at 02:43:41 UT

Image Data: M102265088LE___published_first_look.txt

The raw LRO image. The ASU published LRO "First Look."
ASU published blowup of the "First Look" photograph. Deconvolved and enhanced version of the ASU published blowup of the "First Look" photograph.
Deconvolved and enhanced, 1.0 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, gamma curves applied, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Image M104627085LE, photographed on August 11, 2009 at 10:50:18 UT

Image Data: M104627085LE.txt

The raw LRO image, centered on the landing site.
Deconvolved and enhanced, 1.0 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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The raw LRO image of the landing site and EVA traverses. Deconvolved and enhanced, 1.0 meters/pixel.
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Image M104634241LE photographed on August 11, 2009 at 12:49:34 UT

Image Data: M104634241LE.txt

The raw LRO image of the landing site and EVA traverses. ASU published EVA photo of Saddle Rock near the rim of Cone Crater.
ASU published photo of landing site and EVA paths to and from Cone Crater. ASU's annotated version of photo at left.
Deconvolved and enhanced, 1.0 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and more strongly enhanced, 1.0 meters/pixel.
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The raw LRO image, centered on the landing site. Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Image M106985205LE photographed on September 7, 2009 at 17:52:18 UT

Image Data: M106985205LE.txt

The raw LRO image.
Deconvolved and enhanced, 1.0 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Image M109345337LE photographed on October 5, 2009 at 01:27:49 UT

Image Data: M109345337LE.txt

The raw LRO image.
Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.25 meters/pixel.
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Image M111708164LE photographed on November 1, 2009 at 09:48:16 UT

Image Data: M111708164LE.txt

You might wish to read ASU's published news article about this LRO photograph: Precise 3D Measurements of Objects at Apollo 14 Landing Site from LROC NAC Stereo Images

The raw LRO image. ASU published photo demonstrating how the LRO team can create a digital elevation model (DEM) by using two LRO images (M114064206L and M111708164L) of the same area, but taken from slightly different vantage points in space as the LRO overflies the area on the moon's surface.
ASU published close-up of the DEM, with computer generated and overlaid heights (exaggerated by 2X) of the Apollo 14 hardware derived from DEM analysis. Approximate EVA paths (light blue) also have been overlaid on the DEM generated photo. ASU published photo showing the LM deck data points (red) and reference data points (green) located on the ground near the LM. Published image is mirrored. The green lines emanating from the LM deck represent the length of shadows cast by various points along the edge of the LM deck, providing one means of calculating the LM deck's height, based on shadow lengths, above the moon's surface since the sun's elevation for the photo is a known value.
ASU published photo showing the data points used for determining the height of the ALSEP. Published image is mirrored. ASU published photo showing the data points used for determining the height of Turtle Rock. Published image is mirrored.
Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, gamma curves applied, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.25 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, gamma curves applied, 0.25 meters/pixel.
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Image M114064206LE photographed on November 28 , 2009 at 16:15:39 UT

Image Data: M114064206LE.txt

The raw LRO image, centered on the landing site. The raw LRO image, showing the landing site and traverses to Cone Crater.
Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.25 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, gamma curves applied, 0.25 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, highpass filtration applied in order to neutralize terrain lighting variations (due to the slope of the terrain) and more clearly show all EVA paths, 0.25 meters/pixel.
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Images M114071006RE and M114071006LE photographed on November 28, 2009 at 18:08:59 UT

Image Data: M114071006RE.txt and M114071006LE.txt

The raw right (RE) LRO image, showing the ALSEP and terrain west of the ALSEP. The raw left (LE) LRO image, showing the landing site and traverses to Cone Crater.
Deconvolved and enhanced combination of both images, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Image M116425798LE photographed on December 26, 2009 at 00:15:31 UT

Image Data: M116425798LE___underexposed.txt

The raw LRO image. Deconvolved and enhanced plus gamma curves applied, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Image M117609776RE photographed on January 8 , 2010 at 17:08:29 UT

Image Data: M117609776RE.txt

The raw LRO image.
Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, gamma curves applied, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.25 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, gamma curves applied, 0.25 meters/pixel.
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Image M119971387RE photographed on February 5, 2010 at 01:08:41 UT

Image Data: M119971387RE.txt

The raw LRO image.
Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and further enhanced, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.25 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and further enhanced, 0.25 meters/pixel.
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Image M124687860RE photographed on March 31, 2010 at 15:16:34 UT

Image Data: M124687860RE.txt

This LRO image was taken when it was high noon at the landing site. Reflections off of the ALSEP are so bright that the NAC's CCD chip bloomed due to oversaturation of the pixel wells where the ALSEP is located. The excess electrons in those saturated pixel wells spilled over mostly into adjacent pixel wells to the right of the ALSEP, but also spilled over a bit into adjacent pixel wells to the left. Image deconvolution of extremely bright or oversaturated pixels creates a surrounding dark gap plus a bright ring around these overly bright pixels, similar to the diffraction rings seen around bright stars viewed through a telescope with the naked eye.

Why does image deconvolution of overly bright pixels create a dark gap and bright ring? Because image deconvolution algorithms are based on the wave nature of light, and in turn the wave nature of light produces diffraction rings when light passes through the aperture of any optical system. The human eye also is an optical system. If human visual acuity were vasty superior then all of us would see the diffraction rings created by the eye's pupil since the pupil defines the aperture of the eye's optical system. A planet's surface, whether photographed or viewed with the naked eye through a telescope, actually is a near infinite combination of Airy disks and each Airy disk's associated diffraction rings. The wave nature of light creates these Airy disks. And it is the information contained in the near infinite number of overlapping yet indistinguishable Airy disk and radial diffraction ring patterns within the image which allows image deconvolution to be possible in the first place.

The raw LRO image.
Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.5 meters/pixel.
TIF Image
Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.25 meters/pixel.
TIF Image

Image M127049821RE photographed on April 27, 2010 at 23:22:36 UT

Image Data: M127049821RE.txt

The raw LRO image, centered on the landing site.
Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.5 meters/pixel.
TIF Image
Deconvolved and enhanced, highpass filter applied, 0.5 meters/pixel.
TIF Image
Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.25 meters/pixel.
TIF Image
Deconvolved and enhanced, highpass filter applied, 0.25 meters/pixel.
TIF Image
Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, highpass filter applied, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Images M129404545LE and M129404545RE photographed on May 25 , 2010 at 05:27:58 UT

Image Data: M129404545RE.txt and M129404545LE.txt

The raw LRO right (RE) image.
Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, gamma curves applied, 0.5 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced combination of the RE and LE images, showing the terrain seen by the Apollo 14 crew during their approach to the landing site, 1.0 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and further enhanced version of image at left, 1.0 meters/pixel.
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Image M131765772RE photographed on June 21, 2010 at 13:21:44 UT

Image Data: M131765772RC.txt

The raw LRO image.
Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.5 meters/pixel.
TIF Image
Deconvolved and enhanced, gamma curves applied, 0.5 meters/pixel.
TIF Image
Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.25 meters/pixel.
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Deconvolved and enhanced, gamma curves applied, 0.25 meters/pixel.
TIF Image

Image M132943081RE photographed on July 5, 2010 at 04:23:33 UT

Image Data: M132943081RC.txt

The raw LRO image.
Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.5 meters/pixel.
TIF Image
Deconvolved and enhanced, gamma curves applied, 0.5 meters/pixel.
TIF Image
Deconvolved and enhanced, 0.25 meters/pixel.
TIF Image
Deconvolved and enhanced, gamma curves applied, 0.25 meters/pixel.
TIF Image
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