Nozomi: Earth and Moon
Explanation:
Japan launched its first mission to orbit Mars,
Nozomi (Hope),
on July 3rd from the
Kagoshima Space Center on
the island of Kyushu.
Nozomi's goal is to explore the Martian atmosphere and magnetic
field as well as regions of the planet's surface and moons.
Formerly known as Planet B, the spacecraft will use highly
elliptical orbits with successive
Earth/Moon flybys to help slingshot itself along its
ultimate trajectory
toward Mars, arriving at the red planet in
October 1999.
This stunning picture of the crescent Earth-Moon system
was taken by Nozomi's onboard camera on July 18 from a point in space
about 100,000 miles from the Earth and 320,000 miles from the Moon.
Vibrant and bright, the reflective
clouds and oceans of Earth contrast
strongly with the dark, somber tones of
the lunar surface.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
