During its flight, the Galileo spacecraft returned images of the Moon. The Galileo spacecraft took these images on December 7, 1992 on its way to explore the Jupiter system in 1995-97. The distinct bright ray crater at the bottom of the image is the Tycho impact basin. The dark areas are lava rock filled impact basins: Oceanus Procellarum (on the left), Mare Imbrium (center left), Mare Serenitatis and Mare Tranquillitatis (center), and Mare Crisium (near the right edge). This picture contains images through the Violet, 756 nm, 968 nm filters. The color is 'enhanced' in the sense that the CCD camera is sensitive to near infrared wavelengths of light beyond human vision. The Galileo project is managed for NASA's Office of Space Science by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Lunar Prospects
Title
Lunar Prospects
Explanation
Launched on January 6th [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980108.html ], NASA's Lunar Prospector [ http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/ ] spacecraft has been exploring the Moon with instruments designed to sense global properties [ http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/dataviz/datamaps/index.html ] while orbiting pole-to-pole, 63 miles above the lunar surface. Now over half way through its primary mission, impressive science results include [ http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/science/newresults/index.html ] a much-needed precision gravity map [ http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/science/newresults/dopp-ge.html ] of the lunar surface, global maps of elemental composition, the detection of mini-magnetospheres [ http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/science/newresults/mer.html ] related to large impact sites, and evidence pointing toward a small iron-rich lunar core. But perhaps the most spectacular recent announcement [ ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/pressrel/1998/98-158.txt ] has underscored Prospector's earlier block-buster - the detection of substantial water-ice [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980306.html ] at both the North and South lunar poles. An analysis of data [ http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/science/newresults/ns.html ] collected so far is consistent with near-pure water ice deposits - the residue of cometary impacts - buried beneath as much as 18 inches of dry dusty regolith [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980327.html ]. And the estimates now suggest 10 times more water in each polar region [ http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/PSRdiscoveries/Dec96/IceonMoon.html ] than previously thought! The small Prospector spacecraft carries no cameras for lunar imaging, but the Moon is relatively well photographed. This detailed, color-enhanced [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/ cgi-bin/PIAGenCatalogPage.pl?PIA00405 ] nearside mosaic [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950903.html ] was produced from images taken by the Galileo spacecraft as it passed the Moon in December of 1992.
Near and Far
title
Near and Far
description
The above illustration, based on Galileo spacecraft images, shows the approximate difference in apparent size between a full moon at perigee (the closest point in the lunar orbit, pictured at left) and a full moon at apogee, the farthest point in the lunar orbit. *Image Credit*: NASA
Clementine Moon Spin
Title
Clementine Moon Spin
Abstract
This animation rotates around a virtual moon showing Clementine data. The first frame and last frame of the animation match up to allow continuous cycling of the rotation.
Completed
2007-08-20
Apogee Moon, Perigee Moon
Title
Apogee Moon, Perigee Moon
Explanation
Why don't these pieces fit? This third quarter Moon (left) and first quarter Moon were both photographed during the last lunar cycle or lunation [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap040829.html ] with the same telescope and camera. But, simply combining the pictures into one sharp, full surface view [ http://astrosurf.com/cidadao/moon.htm ] would clearly be a problem. In fact, on October 6th the Moon's third quarter phase happened to occur near lunar apogee [ http://www.fourmilab.ch/earthview/moon_ap_per.html ], the farthest point in the Moon's orbit [ http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/basics/bsf3-4.html ]. On September 21st, the first quarter phase fell close to lunar perigee [ http://www.fourmilab.ch/earthview/pacalc.html ], the Moon's closest approach to planet Earth. Viewed two weeks apart, the resulting difference in apparent sizes would not be noticed by casual skygazers [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030515.html ], but the simultaneous side by side comparison makes it hard to ignore. Skygazers will likely notice the Moon [ http://www.shadowandsubstance.com/ ] next week though, as it slides through Earth's shadow during October 27th's total lunar eclipse [ http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/ 13oct_lunareclipse.htm ].
Full disc of moon photograph
…
Title
Full disc of moon photographed by Apollo 17 crewmen during transearth coast
Description
This full disc of the moon was photographed by the Apollo 17 crewmen during their transearth coast homeward following a successful lunar landing mission in December 1972. Mare seen on this photo include Serentatis, Tranquillitatis, Nectaris, Foecunditatis and Crisium.
Date Taken
1972-12-14
A Skygazer's Full Moon
Title
A Skygazer's Full Moon
Explanation
This dramatically sharp picture [ http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/6432/ Einstein.html ] of the full moon was recorded on 22 December, 1999 by astroimager Rob Gendler [ http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/6432/homepage.html ]. Big, beautiful, bright, and evocative [ http://205.121.65.141/Millville/teachers/carles/carles96_97/ writing/moonpoems.htm ], it was the last full moon of the Y1.9Ks, pleasing and inspiring even casual skygazers. December's moon was special [ http://www.magna.com.au/~prfbrown/i_asimov.html ] for another reason, as the full phase [ http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/phases.html ] occurred on the day of the winter solstice and within hours of lunar perigee [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap991222.html ]. The first full moon of the year 2000 will bring a special treat [ http://www.bibliography.com/moon/ ] as well, presenting denizens of planet Earth with a total lunar eclipse [ http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEextra/TLE2000Jan20.html ]. On Thursday evening, January 20, the moon will encounter the dark edge of Earth's shadow at 10:01 PM Eastern Time [ http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/zones.html ] with the total eclipse phase beginning at 11:05 PM and lasting for 77 minutes. This lunar eclipse will be visible from North and South America and Western Europe (total phase begins at 4:05 AM GMT January 21).
Tycho and Copernicus: Lunar
…
Title
Tycho and Copernicus: Lunar Ray Craters
Explanation
Dazzling in binoculars [ http://www.skypub.com/sights/moonplanets/ moontour.html ] or a small telescope, the Moon [ http://www.nineplanets.org/luna.html ] is pocked with impact craters. During partial lunar phases [ http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/6389/Da_Moon.htm ], the craters along the terminator are cast in dramatic relief by strong shadows. But when the Moon [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/moon.html ] is full some craters [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010428.html ] seem to sprout systems of bright radial lines or rays. This detailed [ http://www.galaxyimages.com/copernicus.html ] digital [ http://www.galaxyimages.com/ ] close-up of the full Moon features two prominent ray craters [ http://www.lpi.usra.edu/expmoon/orbiter/ orbiter-craters.html ], Copernicus (upper left) and Tycho (lower right), each with extensive ray systems of light colored debris blasted out by the crater-forming impacts. In general, ray craters [ http://www.lpi.usra.edu/research/clemen/clemen.html ] are relatively young as their rays overlay the lunar terrain [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap001209.html ]. In fact, at 85 kilometers wide, Tycho, with its far reaching rays, is the youngest large crater [ http://www.nasm.edu/ceps/etp/compare/craters/craters.html ] on the nearside. Crater Copernicus [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010513.html ], surrounded by dark mare which contrast nicely with its bright rays, is 93 kilometers in diameter.
View of the crater on lunar
…
Title
View of the crater on lunar farside from Apollo 13
Description
This bright-rayed crater on the lunar farside was photographed from the Apollo 13 spacecraft during its pass around the Moon. This area is northeast of Mare Marginus. The bright-rayed crater is located at about 105 degrees east longitude and 45 degrees north latitude. The crater Joliot-Curie is located between Mare Marginus and the rayed crater. This view is looking generally toward the northeast.
Date Taken
1970-04-14
View of near full Moon photo
…
Title
View of near full Moon photographed by Apollo 13 during transearth journey
Description
This view of a near full Moon was photographed from the Apollo 13 spacecraft during its transearth journey homeward. Though the explosion of the oxygen tank in the Service Module forced the cancellation of the scheduled lunar landing, Apollo 13 made a pass around the Moon prior to returning to Earth. Some of the conspicuous lunar features include the Sea of Crisis, the Sea of Fertility, the Sea of Tranquility, the Sea of Serenity, The Sea of Nector, the Sea of Vapors, the Border Sea, Smyth's Sea, the crater Langenus, and the crater Tsiolkovsky.
Date Taken
1970-04-14
The Full Moon
Title
The Full Moon
Explanation
Earth has one moon. A symbol in famous love songs [ http://www.primenet.com/~tansy/audrey/moon.html ], movies [ http://www.rscreations.com/werewolf/movies/index.html ], poems [ http://205.121.65.141/Millville/teachers/carles/carles96_97/writing/moonpoems.htm ], and folklore [ http://peacock.tnjc.edu.tw/MOON/moon.html ], many myths [ http://www.pantheon.org/mythica/articles/m/man_in_moon.html ] about the Moon [ http://www.seds.org/nineplanets/nineplanets/luna.html ] date back to ancient history. In fact, the name Monday originates from Moon-day [ http://www.greenheart.com/billh/origin.html ]. The Moon glows by light it reflects from the Sun [ http://www.seds.org/nineplanets/nineplanets/sol.html ] and is frequently the brightest object in the night sky. The Moon [ http://www.badastronomy.com/bitesize/solar_system/moon.html ] orbits the Earth about once a month (moon-th) from about 1 light second away. The above-pictured Full Moon [ http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/pr/1999/14/extra-photos.html ] occurs when the Moon is nearly opposite to the Sun in its orbit. The Moon's diameter is about 1/4 that of the Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990131.html ], and from the Earth's surface appears to have almost exactly the same angular size as the Sun. Recent evidence indicates [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990326.html ] that the Moon [ http://stardate.utexas.edu/resources/ssguide/moon.html ] formed from a colossal impact on the Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990131.html ] about 4.5 billions of years ago, and therefore has a similar composition to the Earth. Humans walked on the Moon [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap981004.html ] for the first time in 1969.
Far Side of the Moon
Title
Far Side of the Moon
Explanation
Locked in synchronous rotation, the Moon always presents [ http://www.seds.org/nineplanets/nineplanets/luna.html ] its well-known near side to Earth. But from lunar orbit, Apollo astronauts [ http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4204/cover.html ] also grew to know the Moon's [ http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/education/tg/teach1.html ] far side. This sharp picture [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/imgcat/html/object_page/a16_m_3021.html ] from Apollo 16's mapping camera shows the eastern edge of the familiar near side (left) and the strange and heavily cratered far side of the Moon [ http://www.hawastsoc.org/solar/eng/moon.htm ]. Surprisingly, the rough and battered surface of the far side looks very different from the near side which is covered with smooth dark lunar maria [ http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/planet_volcano/lunar/mare/mlm.html ]. The likely explanation is that the far side crust is thicker, making it harder for molten material from the interior to flow to the surface and form the smooth maria.
Lunar Rotation and Flyby fro
…
Title
Lunar Rotation and Flyby from Clementine Data (with route map)
Abstract
Clementine was a joint project between the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization and NASA. The objective of the mission was to test sensors and spacecraft components under extended exposure to the space environment and to make scientific observations of the Moon and the near-Earth asteroid 1620 Geographos. Clementine was launched on 25 January 1994 at 16:34 UTC (12:34 PM EDT) from Vandenberg AFB aboard a Titan IIG rocket. After two Earth flybys, lunar insertion was achieved on February 21. Lunar mapping took place over approximately two months, in two parts. The first part consisted of a 5 hour elliptical polar orbit with a perilune of about 400 km at 28 degrees S latitude. After one month of mapping the orbit was rotated to a perilune of 29 degrees N latitude, where it remained for one more month. This allowed global imaging as well as altimetry coverage from 60 degrees S to 60 degrees N.
Completed
1995-06-09
Moon after trans earth injec
…
Name of Image
Moon after trans earth injection - Apollo 11
Date of Image
1969-08-01
Full Description
On July 21, 1969, only days after walking on the Moon's surface, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin leave lunar orbit and begin the journey back to the space ship Columbia and its return to Earth. As they leave the Moon's orbit, a look back gives them a new perspective of where they were and where man's future lies. This was their final sight of the moon before they began docking procedures with Columbia.
GLL/EM16
This view looking down on th
…
Description
This view looking down on the north pole of the Moon was assembled from 18 images taken with a green filter by Galileo's imaging system as the spacecraft flew by the Moon on December 7, 1992. The part of the moon visible from Earth is toward the left and includes the dark, lava-filled Imbrium basin, upper left, Mare Serenitatis, middle left, Mare Tranquillitatis, lower left, and Crisium, the dark circular feature toward the bottom of the mosaic. Also visible in this view are the dark lava plains of the Marginis and Smythii basins, lower right. The Humboldtianum Basin, a 650-kilometer (400-mile) impact structure partly filled with dark volcanic deposits, is visible in the middle of the image. The Moon's north pole is located just inside the shadow zone about a third of the way from the top left of the lighted region. The Galileo project, whose primary mission is the exploration of the Jupiter system in 1995-97, is managed for NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. #####
Moon - North Pole Mosaic
PIA00130
Earth
Solid-State Imaging
Title
Moon - North Pole Mosaic
Original Caption Released with Image
This view of the Moon's north pole is a mosaic assembled from 18 images taken by Galileo's imaging system through a green filter as the spacecraft flew by on December 7, 1992. The left part of the Moon is visible from Earth, this region includes the dark, lava-filled Mare Imbrium (upper left), Mare Serenitatis (middle left), Mare Tranquillitatis (lower left), and Mare Crisium, the dark circular feature toward the bottom of the mosaic. Also visible in this view are the dark lava plains of the Marginis and Smythii Basins at the lower right. The Humboldtianum Basin, a 650-kilometer (400-mile) impact structure partly filled with dark volcanic deposits, is seen at the center of the image. The Moon's north pole is located just inside the shadow zone, about a third of the way from the top left of the illuminated region.
Impact Moon
Title
Impact Moon
Explanation
The Moon's surface is [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/ cgi-bin/PIAGenCatalogPage.pl?PIA00130 ] covered with craters, scars of frequent impacts during the early history of the solar system. Now, recent results from the Lunar Prospector [ http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/ ] spacecraft support the idea that the Moon itself formed from the debris of a giant impact of a mars-sized planetary body with the Earth nearly 4.5 billion years ago. The impact theory of lunar origin [ http://www.psi.edu/projects/moon/moon.html ] can explain, for example, why Moon rocks returned by the Apollo missions [ http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/ap15fj/index.htm ] have the same isotopic ratios as Earth rocks while the Moon seems deficient in heavy elements like iron. It can also explain a critical finding [ ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/pressrel/1999/99-043.txt ] of the Lunar Prospector experiments - that the Moon's core is proportionally very small. If the Moon formed simply as a "sister world", its origin paralleling Earth's formation from the primordial solar nebula [ http://www.seds.org/nineplanets/nineplanets/origin.html ], it should have similar iron content and relative core size. But material blasted from the surface of Earth by an impacting body would lack the iron and heavy elements which had settled to the Earth's core yet retain similar ratios of chemical isotopes [ http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/EDUCATE/REACTOR/02-FISS/part03.html ]. A fraction of this debris cloud would remain in Earth orbit ultimately forming the Moon [ http://www.lhl.lib.mo.us/pubserv/hos/moon/cover.htm ].
Moon's North Pole
PIA02442
Earth
Imaging Science Subsystem -
…
Title
Moon's North Pole
Original Caption Released with Image
Mariner 10 was launched on November 3, 1973, 12:45 am PST, from Cape Canaveral on an Atlas/Centaur rocket (a reconditioned Intercontinental Ballistic Missile - ICBM). Within 12 hours of launch the twin cameras were turned on and several hundred pictures of both the Earth and the Moon were acquired over the following days. In this unusual view eastern Mare Frigor is near the center of the disc, while Mare Crisiumis the large circular feature near the lower right limb. The heavily cratered region shown in the top of the mosaic shows portions of the Moon not seen from the Earth. This mosaic is composed of 22 frames acquired in orange (15), clear (4), UV (2), and UV-polarized (1) wavelengths by the Mariner 10 Spacecraft. The Mariner 10 mission is managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA's Office of Space Science, explored Venus in February 1974 on the way to three encounters with Mercury-in March and September 1974 and in March 1975. The spacecraft took more than 7,000 photos of Mercury, Venus, the Earth and the Moon. Image Credit: NASA/JPL/Northwestern University
Moon - North Polar Mosaic, C
…
PIA00404
Earth
Title
Moon - North Polar Mosaic, Color
Original Caption Released with Image
During its flight, the Galileo spacecraft returned images of the Moon. The Galileo spacecraft surveyed the Moon on December 7, 1992, on its way to explore the Jupiter system in 1995-1997. The left part of this north pole view is visible from Earth. This color picture is a mosaic assembled from 18 images taken by Galileo's imaging system through a green filter. The left part of this picture shows the dark, lava-filled Mare Imbrium (upper left), Mare Serenitatis (middle left), Mare Tranquillitatis (lower left), and Mare Crisium, the dark circular feature toward the bottom of the mosaic. Also visible in this view are the dark lava plains of the Marginis and Smythii Basins at the lower right. The Humboldtianum Basin, a 650-kilometer (400-mile) impact structure partly filled with dark volcanic deposits, is seen at the center of the image. The Moon's north pole is located just inside the shadow zone, about a third of the way from the top left of the illuminated region. The Galileo project is managed for NASA's Office of Space Science by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Moon - 2 Views of Orientale
…
PIA00077
Earth
Solid-State Imaging
Title
Moon - 2 Views of Orientale Basin
Original Caption Released with Image
These pictures of the Moon were taken by the Galileo spacecraft at (right photo) 6:47 p.m. PST Dec.8, 1990 from a distance of almost 220,000 miles, and at (left photo) 9:35 a.m. PST Dec. 9, 1990 at a range of more than 350,000 miles. The picture on the right shows the dark Oceanus Procellarum in the upper center, with Mare Imbrium above it and the smaller circular Mare Humorum below. The Orientale Basin, with a small mare in its center, is on the lower left near the limb or edge. Between stretches the cratered highland terrain, with scattered bright young craters on highlands and maria alike. The picture at left shows the globe of the Moon rotated, putting Mare Imbrium on the eastern limb and moving the Orientale Basin almost to the center. The extent of the cratered highlands on the far side is very apparent. At lower left, near the limb, is the South Pole Aitken basin, similar to Orientale but very much older and some 1,200 miles in diameter. This feature was previously known as a large depression in the southern far side, this image shows its Orientale like structure and darkness relative to surrounding highlands.
Photograph of nearly full mo
…
Title
Photograph of nearly full moon taken from Apollo 8
Description
Photograph of nearly full moon taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft at a point above 70 degrees east longitude. Mare Crisium, the circular, dark-colored area near the center is near the eastern edge of the moon as viewed from Earth. Mare Nectaris is the ciruclar mare near the terminator. The large, irregular maria are Tranquillitatis and highlands to the south. Lunar farside features occupy most of the right half of the picture. The large, dark-colored crater Tsiolkovsky is near the limb at the lower right. Conspicuous bright rays radiate from two large craters, one to the north of Tsiolkovsky, the other near the limb in the upper half of the picture. The crater Langrenus is near the center of the picture at the eastern edge of Mare Fecunditatis.
Date Taken
1968-12-22
Moon Color Composite
PIA00113
Earth
Solid-State Imaging
Title
Moon Color Composite
Original Caption Released with Image
This color image of the Moon was taken by the Galileo spacecraft at 9:35 a.m. PST Dec. 9, 1990, at a range of about 350,000 miles. The color composite uses monochrome images taken through violet, red, and near-infrared filters. The concentric, circular Orientale basin, 600 miles across, is near the center, the nearside is to the right, the far side to the left. At the upper right is the large, dark Oceanus Procellarum, below it is the smaller Mare Humorum. These, like the small dark Mare Orientale in the center of the basin, formed over 3 billion years ago as basaltic lava flows. At the lower left, among the southern cratered highlands of the far side, is the South-Pole-Aitken basin, similar to Orientale but twice as great in diameter and much older and more degraded by cratering and weathering. The cratered highlands of the near and far sides and the Maria are covered with scattered bright, young ray craters.
Far Side of the Moon
Title
Far Side of the Moon
Description
This image of the moon was obtained by the Galileo Solid State imaging system on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. PST as the Galileo spacecraft passed the Earth and was able to view the lunar surface from a vantage point not possible from the Earth. On the right-hand side of the image is seen the dark maria of Oceanus Procellarum, also visible from the Earth. The dark spots in the center are Mare Orientale, on the western limb of the nearside of the moon, a region barely visible from the Earth. This region and the bright far side highlands on the left have not been seen previously by a camera system such as the one on the Galileo spacecraft, which provides multispectral images of the lunar limb and far side which have not previously been obtained. Comparison of such images to those of the near-side areas from which Apollo astronauts have returned samples will help us understand the spectral properties and composition of the lunar far side.
Date
12.19.1990
Nearside of Earth's Moon as
…
PIA00302
Earth
Ultraviolet/Visible Camera
Title
Nearside of Earth's Moon as Seen by the Clementine Spacecraft
Original Caption Released with Image
About 50,000 Clementine images were processed to produce the four orthographic views of the Moon. Images PIA00302, PIA00303, PIA00304, and PIA00305 show albedo variations (normalized brightness or reflectivity) of the surface at a wavelength of 750 nm (just longward of visible red). The image projection is centered at 0 degree latitude and 0 degree longitude. The lunar nearside is a contrast between dark and light albedo surfaces that has been fancied as the "Man in the Moon". Lunar terrain types are still designated by their 17th century name maria (dark albedo features also known as basins) and terra (brighter albedo features also known as uplands or highlands). The maria constitutes about 16 percent and the terra 84 percent of the lunar surface. The nearside is composed of about 30 percent maria. Extensive bright ray systems surround craters Copernicus (upper left center) and Tycho (near bottom). Studies have shown that two major processes, impact and basaltic volcanism have shaped the major physical features of the lunar surface.
West Limb View of Earth's Mo
…
PIA00305
Earth
Ultraviolet/Visible Camera
Title
West Limb View of Earth's Moon as Seen by the Clementine Spacecraft
Original Caption Released with Image
About 50,000 Clementine images were processed to produce the four orthographic views of the Moon. Images PIA00302, PIA00303, PIA00304, and PIA00305 show albedo variations (normalized brightness or reflectivity) of the surface at a wavelength of 750 nm (just longward of visible red). The image projection is centered at 0 degree latitude and 270 degrees longitude. Maria Orientale (ringed feature just below image center) is just visible from Earth on the extreme western edge of the nearside of the Moon. Oceanus Procellarum (large dark albedo area in upper right of image) is a familiar nearside feature as seen from Earth.
Nearside of Earth's Moon as
…
Title
Nearside of Earth's Moon as Seen by the Clementine Spacecraft
Description
About 50,000 Clementine images were processed to produce the four orthographic views of the Moon. Images PIA00302, PIA00303, PIA00304, and PIA00305 show albedo variations (normalized brightness or reflectivity) of the surface at a wavelength of 750 nm (just longward of visible red). The image projection is centered at 0 degree latitude and 0 degree longitude. The lunar nearside is a contrast between dark and light albedo surfaces that has been fancied as the "Man in the Moon". Lunar terrain types are still designated by their 17th century name maria (dark albedo features also known as basins) and terra (brighter albedo features also known as uplands or highlands). The maria constitutes about 16 percent and the terra 84 percent of the lunar surface. The nearside is composed of about 30 percent maria. Extensive bright ray systems surround craters Copernicus (upper left center) and Tycho (near bottom). Studies have shown that two major processes, impact and basaltic volcanism have shaped the major physical features of the lunar surface.
Date
11.30.1994
Farside View of Earth's Moon
…
PIA00304
Earth
Ultraviolet/Visible Camera
Title
Farside View of Earth's Moon as Seen by the Clementine Spacecraft
Original Caption Released with Image
About 50,000 Clementine images were processed to produce the four orthographic views of the Moon. Images PIA00302, PIA00303, PIA00304, and PIA00305 show albedo variations (normalized brightness or reflectivity) of the surface at a wavelength of 750 nm (just longward of visible red). The image projection is centered at 0 degree latitude and 180 degrees longitude. Mare Moscoviense (dark albedo feature upper left of image center) and South Pole-Aitken Basin (dark feature at bottom) represent maria regions largely absent on the lunar farside. The Clementine altimeter showed Aitken Basin to consist of a topographic rim about 2500 km in diameter, an inner shelf ranging from 400 to 600 km in width, and an irregular depressed floor about 12 km in depth.
East Limb View of Earth's Mo
…
PIA00303
Earth
Ultraviolet/Visible Camera
Title
East Limb View of Earth's Moon as Seen by the Clementine Spacecraft
Original Caption Released with Image
About 50,000 Clementine images were processed to produce the four orthographic views of the Moon. Images PIA00302, PIA00303, PIA00304, and PIA00305 show albedo variations (normalized brightness or reflectivity) of the surface at a wavelength of 750 nm (just longward of visible red). The image projection is centered at 0 degree latitude and 90 degrees longitude. The dark albedo features Mare Smythii (image center) and Mare Marginis (above Smythii) are just visible from Earth on the extreme eastern edge of the lunar nearside. Maria Crisium (directly west of Marginis) and Mare Fecuditatis (southwest of Crisium) are familiar nearside features as seen from Earth. Maria regions are believed to be large basins formed by impacts from cosmic projectiles later filled by basaltic lava flows from volcanic eruptions. Basaltic lava flows on the basin floors give maria their dark albedo appearance.
General Description
International Space Station Imagery
Apollo 16 Onboard Photograph
…
Name of Image
Apollo 16 Onboard Photograph: Back Side of the Moon
Date of Image
1972-04-18
Full Description
This view of the back side of the Moon was captured by the Apollo 16 mission crew. The sixth manned lunar landing mission, the Apollo 16 (SA-511), carrying three astronauts: Mission Commander John W. Young, Command Module pilot Thomas K. Mattingly II, and Lunar Module pilot Charles M. Duke, lifted off on April 16, 1972. The Apollo 16 continued the broad-scale geological, geochemical, and geophysical mapping of the Moon?s crust, begun by the Apollo 15, from lunar orbit. This mission marked the first use of the Moon as an astronomical observatory by using the ultraviolet camera/spectrograph which photographed ultraviolet light emitted by Earth and other celestial objects. The Lunar Roving Vehicle, developed by the Marshall Space Flight Center, was also used. The mission ended on April 27, 1972.
Single Still Image
PIA02321
Earth
Imaging Science Subsystem -
…
Title
Single Still Image
Original Caption Released with Image
This narrow angle image taken by Cassini's camera system of the Moon is one of the best of a sequence of narrow angle frames taken as the spacecraft passed by the Moon on the way to its closest approach with Earth on August 17, 1999. The 80 millisecond exposure was taken through a spectral filter centered at 0.33 microns, the filter bandpass was 85 Angstroms wide. The spatial scale of the image is about 1.4 miles per pixel (about 2.3 kilometers). The imaging data were processed and released by the Cassini Imaging Central Laboratory for Operations (CICLOPS) at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Tucson, AZ. Photo Credit: NASA/JPL/Cassini Imaging Team/University of Arizona Cassini, launched in 1997, is a joint mission of NASA, the European Space Agency and Italian Space Agency. The mission is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington DC. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA.
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