A Filipino Astrophotographer denied the allegations of doing mock-ups in the captured image of the Mayon Volcano, aligning with the Andromeda Galaxy.
MJ Magallon, the Filipino Astrophotographer, stated that it took him 2 attempts to capture the said volcano and galaxy together.
However, Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) physicist Dr. Dominic Guana is suspicious of the astral image because of the inaccurate size of the Andromeda Galaxy when captured with the Mayon Volcano.
Dr. Guana explained that the captured galaxy is expected to be smaller than the size that Magallon captured.
“Possibility po niyan is separate ‘yung Mayon Volcano and kinunan din ng separate ‘yung Andromeda galaxy,” the PhilSA physicist said.
Magallon defended that Andromeda Galaxy’s image may differ using a telephoto lens.
“I took a series of photos habang palubog si Andromeda sa likod ni Mayon. Pumili ako ng pagpapatung-patungin ko. Sa astrophotography, tinatawag nila ‘tong composite. Walang pinalitan, walang binawasan, pinagpatong patong lang just to improve the image quality,” Magallon explained.
The Andromeda Galaxy is the nearest galaxy to the Earth’s Milky Way Galaxy, with 2.5 million lightyears away.
Photo courtesy from MJ Magallon
