Fake Moon Better than Real

Photographing the moon is harder than you think. So hard, in fact, that two early astronomical photographers resorted to building an incredibly realistic plaster model of the moon and photographing *it*. Their mock-up garnered enormous acclaim and sparked dreams of flying to the moon.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• science
• moon
• photography
• astronomy
• history
• mock-ups

[wired]

Yikes, something happened with the YouTube version of this video. We'll get it fixed.

[papagee89]

the moon is actually made of cheese.

[Peacenik]

its hard to compare the two images when it just flashes on the screen

[uncled39]

@wired Still waiting.

[TheDrac3000]

I watched the 1st Moon landing(s) when I was 5,and I don't know what to think anymore,is it Real or Fake. But,something that I keep remembering,is when my school (1974) got a Giant Moon Globe,like 5ft high,my teacher would turn off the lights,and turn on small light,to shine on Moon Globe,and it looked Sooo Real,if a teacher could do this in 1974,it makes me wonder. I also think maybe She was trying to tell us something. this was in Art class,not science,Why Art Class? maybe a head of us,huh?

[pjwarez]

Wired: "Photographing the moon is harder than you think. ... "

It was difficult back in the 1850's! Why don't you do yourself a favor and watch your own video!

[rerevisionist]

While you're about it, can you state what evidence you have that these were plaster models, and how widely used were they? I have some books (eg hefty Flammarion book on astronomy) with photos of the moon which are presented as genuine. I've never heard the idea before that still photos we essentially faked like this.

NB worth noting Nat Geog mags of late 1960s show a big model of the moon - probably used in fake film.

[Zhyrca]

There has been an issue while this was uploaded, and it DOES happen sometimes.

[MrFireAss]

dont worry , i have a pause button, and so do they, they are just lazy...

5 stars.

[naughtyringtail2002]

aside from the pictures blinking off after one frame I thought it was interesting.

[2mileylovee]

blah omg i just hate this video is borrrrrrrrrrrrring

[orastella]

I'd love to be able to see the second pictures. Plus, the volume is way down