GoKawiilDecorrelation Stretch, a NASA Imaging Trick, Uncovers Hidden Angkor Wat Paintings
A NASA-developed image-processing method called decorrelation stretch, originally created to pull extra detail from satellite and Mars rover photos, has been repurposed to reveal ancient artwork invisible to the naked eye. Using this technique, a Singaporean archaeologist uncovered roughly 200 faded paintings at Angkor Wat between 2010 and 2012, including scenes of horseback riders and musicians. The method reached archaeology through Jon Harman, a medical imaging professional and rock-art hobbyist who adapted NASA's published algorithm into the widely used Dstretch software.
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This shows how tools built for space exploration can find unexpected second lives in completely different fields, helping researchers recover cultural heritage that would otherwise remain lost to time and decay. The Dstretch software has since become a standard tool for archaeologists worldwide studying rock art, demonstrating how cross-disciplinary curiosity can democratize access to advanced imaging techniques once confined to specialized labs.
- Decorrelation stretch, a NASA algorithm for satellite and Mars imagery, enhances faded images by boosting subtle contrasts.
- About 200 previously unnoticed ancient paintings were found at Angkor Wat using this technique between 2010 and 2012.
- A hobbyist with a medical imaging background adapted NASA's public research into the Dstretch tool now used globally in archaeology.
Lonely Planet Cambodia travel guide — If reading about hidden paintings inside Angkor Wat's central tower makes you want to see the complex yourself, this guide maps out the temples and the practicalities of getting to them. It's a handy companion for planning a trip where the details—like faded wall art most visitors walk right past—are the whole point.
See Lonely Planet Cambodia travel guide on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: spinoff.nasa.gov, 2026-09-10
Published there as: “Technique for Manipulating Satellite Photos Now Reveals Ancient Images (2025)”
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