Mineral & Trail

This is a unique composite merging two worlds: the enhanced color detail of the Moon's mineral composition and the continuous motion of a 3.5-hour star trail exposure

A combination of specialized equipment was utilized to capture this astronomical moment:
• Telescope: Celestron 8SE.
• Eyepiece/Filter: 25mm with Svbony filter.
• Cameras:
• For Lunar Detail: iPhone 15 Pro (43 MP, RAW format).
• For Star Trails: GoPro Hero 13 camera.
✨ Processing Technique
This is a sophisticated composite, combining two main elements, each captured with a different camera:
1. Lunar Detail (Captured with iPhone 15 Pro): The "Mineral Moon" effect was achieved using a stacking technique and meticulous color channel enhancement. This process helps to reveal subtle differences in the Moon's surface composition, such as the Titanium and Iron content within the Lunar Maria.
2. Star Trails (Captured with GoPro Hero 13): The star trails were captured separately by stacking exposures covering a total duration of 3.5 hours (210 minutes).
Final Adjustments: Made using Snapseed, Lightroom, and PicsArt for contrast, clarity, and overall color balance of the final composite image.

Artist: Lulu Yousef Alshawi
Handle: @bubtske
This is a composite image that highlights the subtle, hidden colors of the Moon (the "Mineral Moon" effect), beautifully merged with long-exposure star trails.
📍 Observation Details
• Location: Buraidah, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
• Date & Time: Tuesday, November 11, 2025 11:20 PM (Saudi Arabia Time).
• Lunar Phase: Second Quarter, with 58% illumination.
• Earth–Moon Distance: 369,110.83 km.