NASA has recognized Spanish astrophotographer Cayetana Saiz with the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) award for her captivating image of the Moon and the Pleiades star cluster. The image, captured on April 1st in Cantabria, Spain, showcases the celestial dance between these two prominent night sky objects.
Saiz's award marks a significant achievement as she is the first Spanish astrophotographer to independently receive the honor using her own data and equipment. The photograph, taken in Suesa, captures the Moon's apparent passage in front of the Pleiades.
The final image is a composite of multiple exposures, representing over seven hours of data acquisition and two hours of meticulous processing. Saiz employed advanced astrophotography techniques, such as image stacking, to reveal the faint nebulae surrounding the Pleiades and to manage the brightness contrast between the Moon and the star cluster, unveiling details invisible to the naked eye.