Earthrise from Moon Orbiting Kaguya
Explanation:
What does the Earth look like from the Moon?
A new version of this
space age
perspective was captured by the
robotic
Kaguya spacecraft currently in orbit around Earth's Moon.
Launched two months ago by Japan, the
scientific
mission of the
Selenological
and Engineering Explorer (SELENE), nicknamed Kaguya, is to study the
origin
and evolution of the
Moon.
Last month
Kaguya
reached lunar orbit and starting transmitting data and images.
This
frame is
from Kaguya's onboard
HDTV camera.
An
astronaut standing on the lunar surface
would never actually see the Earth rise, since the Moon always keeps the
same side toward the Earth.
This Earthrise as well as the
famous Earthrise captured 40 years ago
by the crew of
Apollo 8,
only occurs for observers in lunar orbit.
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.
