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A picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes it is much more valuable.
The Artemis II crew took hundreds of stellar images in the process Slingshot around the moonusing little more than an off-the-shelf Nikon Z9 mirrorless camera. It turns out that these images are not only good enough for desktop wallpapers, but also for scientific discoveries.
Researchers from Tokyo City University A study was published in June Using images of a total solar eclipse taken during the Artemis II lunar flyby to investigate the properties of the F-corona — fictional science talk about interplanetary dust particles that scatter sunlight when the moon is viewed with the sun directly behind it. This faint astronomical phenomenon gives the moon a halo-like glow.
One of the most famous images from the expedition, “Artemis II in Eclipse“, captured a 54-minute total eclipse and provided a rare, never-before-seen view of the F-corona. Using the JPEG image, Japanese researchers obtained reliable measurements and confirmed the structure of the F-corona, demonstrating that simple imaging can produce valuable astrophysical data.
According to Nikon and NASA, the Nikon Z9 is paired with a 35mm f/2D lens to capture the image at an aperture of f/2, an exposure time of 2 seconds and an ISO of 1,600.
The researchers used the “Artemis II in Eclipse” image and analyzed it in several ways to support their research. Captured with high resolution camera in JPEG format.
Use a regular camera for science
Koheji Tsumura, an associate professor at Tokyo City University and co-author of the study, told CNET that he was initially skeptical about using JPEG images since then. Most satellite images Used for research that relies on either uncompressed raw image data or highly specialized codecs. However, the final result was “comparable to data used in professional astronomical observations.”
“I was amazed to learn that an astronaut took this amazing photo using a commercially available Nikon Z9 with an exposure time of just two seconds,” Tsumura said.
The study’s other co-author, Ko Arimatsu, agrees that the high-performance commercial technology could serve as a tool for future space exploration and other scientific discoveries. “The results show that scientifically valuable data can be extracted from consumer camera images when properly calibrated and analyzed,” Arimatsu said.
The Nikon Z9 was not originally part of the mission. The crew planned to use NASA-certified Nikon D5 cameras, which are equipped to better withstand deep space radiation. However, Commander Reed Wiseman pushed for Z9 to be included as a test platform for future Artemis missions, and NASA eventually agreed to include it on board.
“We did some training on the Z9, which is a great piece of equipment,” Wiseman said.
NASA has been using Nikon cameras for more than 50 years and has collaborated with the photography company to develop equipment for the agency’s missions. They are Currently working On the portable universal lunar camera, which is expected to go to the moon with astronauts Part of Artemis IV.
“Seeing images from the Artemis II mission returning to Earth is a great honor for all of us at Nikon,” Hiroyuki Ikegami, senior executive vice president at Nikon, said in a statement to CNET. “Nikon is honored to support NASA with cameras and lenses designed to provide exceptional clarity and reliability in the most demanding environments.”
The Nikon Z9 astronaut is a commercially available model, the flagship of Nikon’s mirrorless product range and widely regarded as one of the The best cameras on the market. CNET said the Z9 is “packed with great camera technology that delivers stunning shooting rates for serious amateurs and professionals alike.” actually.
