21
Jun 12

Evidence Mounts for Ice in Huge Lunar Crater

Source: NASA Science News


Laser elevation map of Shackleton crater in false colors.
Image credit: NASA/Zuber, M.T. et al., Nature, 2012.

According to data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, ice may make up as much as 22 percent of the surface material in Shackleton crater at the Moon's south pole.(read more)

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16
Mar 12

Evolution of the Moon in 2.5 minutes

Source: NASA Explorer (@YouTube)

From year to year, the moon never seems to change. Craters and other formations appear to be permanent now, but the moon didn't always look like this. Thanks to NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, we now have a better look at some of the moon's history. A new video that sgows us changes on lunar surface has been released by NASA. Some effects seem exagerated, but nonetheless the big picture is there.

The original site of the movie is at Goddard Space Flight Center's webpage.

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25
Feb 12

LRO reveals recent geological activity on the Moon

Source: NASA News

New images from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft show the moon's crust is being stretched, forming minute valleys in a few small areas on the lunar surface. Scientists propose this geologic activity occurred less than 50 million years ago, which is considered recent compared to the moon's age of more than 4.5 billion years. (read more)

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7
Sep 11

NASA spacecraft images offer sharper views of Apollo landing sites

Source: NASA/LRO


Apollo17 landing site. Image credits: NASA/Goddard/ASU.

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) captured the sharpest images ever taken from space of the Apollo 12, 14 and 17 landing sites. Images show the twists and turns of the paths made when the astronauts explored the lunar surface.

At the Apollo 17 site, the tracks laid down by the lunar rover are clearly visible, along with the last foot trails left on the moon. The images also show where the astronauts placed some of the scientific instruments that provided the first insight into the moon's environment and interior. (read more)

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