Bartosz Wojczyński: The Big Moon Poster

Bartosz Wojczyński: The Big Moon Poster – 222-Megapixel Lunar Masterpiece

Perhaps the Largest Moon Image Ever Captured from Earth's Surface

On March 25, 2018, astrophotographer Bartosz Wojczyński achieved what may be the pinnacle of ground-based lunar imaging: a 222-megapixel photograph that pushes the absolute limits of what's possible through Earth's turbulent atmosphere.

This isn't just a photograph—it's a technical triumph that required extreme focal lengths, immense data processing, and the perfect convergence of equipment, atmospheric conditions, and expertise.

To capture detail at this unprecedented scale, Wojczyński deployed a 16-inch (406mm) aperture telescope with an effective focal length of 7,200mm—nearly 24 feet of light-gathering optical power compressed into an instrument capable of revealing lunar features just hundreds of meters across.

At these extreme magnifications, atmospheric distortion becomes the enemy, causing images to blur and shimmer like viewing through water.

The Challenge: Conquering Earth's Atmosphere

Ground-based lunar photography at this resolution faces formidable obstacles. At 7,200mm focal length, the Moon's surface is magnified so dramatically that Earth's atmospheric turbulence—variations in temperature and density between air layers—causes constant distortion. Even on excellent nights, only brief moments of atmospheric stability, called "good seeing," produce sharp images.

Wojczyński's solution? Brute force combined with sophisticated processing. Over just 17 minutes on that March evening, he recorded more than 170 gigabytes of raw data—thousands upon thousands of video frames captured across 27 separate telescope positions, each covering a different section of the lunar disc.

The result: a 27-panel mosaic where only the sharpest frames from each position survived the selection process, ensuring maximum detail in the final composite.

What You're Actually Seeing

The resolution achieved here reveals craters several hundred meters in diameter—structures that would fit inside a small town.

You can trace the intricate texture of ancient lava flows in the lunar maria (the dark "seas"), explore complex ray systems ejected from impact events billions of years ago, and observe the rugged, heavily cratered highlands that represent the Moon's most ancient terrain.

Captured using a red filter, this image emphasizes surface detail and texture while cutting through atmospheric dispersion that can blur images at long focal lengths. The monochrome aesthetic showcases the Moon in classical form—the way astronomers have studied our satellite for centuries, revealing topographic complexity through gradations of light and shadow.

Museum-Grade Quality for Your Space

At Astrography, we curate only the most exceptional images—photographs that transcend mere documentation to become genuine works of art with scientific integrity.

"The Big Moon" represents Wojczyński's mastery: a NASA APOD and Astrobin Image of the Day award-winner with over a decade of astrophotography excellence.

• Fine Art Print Option: Printed using archival pigment inks on acid-free, museum-quality substrates engineered for longevity exceeding 200 years under proper display conditions. This gallery-standard preservation ensures your investment maintains its depth, clarity, and tonal range for generations—the identical archival protocols used by museums, institutions, and serious collectors worldwide.
• Budget-Friendly Poster Option: Experience this lunar masterpiece through our high-quality poster version—identical imagery at an accessible price point, perfect for classrooms, dorm rooms, home offices, or anyone beginning their journey into space art collecting.

Perfect For:

• Astronomy Enthusiasts & Lunar Observers: Own a piece that represents the absolute frontier of amateur astrophotography—a testament to what passion, skill, and technology can achieve from a backyard in Poland.
• Art Collectors & Photography Connoisseurs: Add a rare, technically exceptional astrophotography print to your collection, signed by an internationally recognized master whose work has earned NASA recognition.
• Interior Designers & Architects: Create commanding focal points in modern spaces, libraries, observatories, or STEM-focused environments—this oversized, high-detail lunar portrait commands attention and elevates any interior.
• Educators, Planetariums & Science Centers: Use this extraordinary image as a teaching tool demonstrating lunar geology, crater formation, volcanic maria, and the technical possibilities of ground-based astronomical imaging.
• Space Program Professionals: Perfect for aerospace companies, research institutions, or anyone whose work connects to lunar science, space exploration, or optical engineering.
• Gift Seekers: Give something truly exceptional—a meaningful present for astronomy graduates, telescope owners, engineers, or anyone who has ever looked up and wondered about our closest cosmic companion.

Why This Print Matters

Every selection in the Astrography collection tells a story. This image captures the moment when human ingenuity, optical physics, and atmospheric luck converged to reveal our Moon with unprecedented clarity—all from the surface of our own planet, looking up through miles of turbulent air.

At 222 megapixels, this is likely one of the largest lunar images ever captured from Earth's surface—a distinction that places it alongside the work of the world's most accomplished astrophotographers. The square format offers versatile display options, creating visual balance whether mounted in a contemporary gallery, a traditional study, or a modern office environment.

This isn't just decoration. It's a window to another world, captured at the absolute edge of what ground-based astronomy can achieve.

Own a piece of lunar history. Order your museum-quality print today.